Cops kill 3 kidnappers in Davao, rescue victim

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Policemen killed 3 of the kidnappers of a Filipino-Chinese in a daring entrapment operation at the parking lot of a bank on Thursday, July 11.

Davao City police chief Ronald dela Rosa said they got wind of information that a payoff was going to happen at the Allied Bank Claveria branch here. 

At least 14 kidnappers arrived at the bank in 3 SUVs while police forces positioned for the kill. The assault happened at 11:30 am, de la Rosa said.

Police managed to arrest only one kidnapper, while the rest were able to flee aboard two SUVs.

Local authorities were alerted that the kidnap-for-ransom group, which was holding captive Sally Chua, was in the city for the payoff. The 51-year-old Chua was allegedly kidnapped in Quezon City last July 5.

The kidnappers initially demanded a P50-M ransom, which was eventually reduced to P15-M, police sources said. The money remained intact after the operation, they said, and Chua was not harmed.

“The victim told the kidnappers to do the payoff in Davao City because she knows that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will help her. She was very confident about it,” dela Rosa said.

“The kidnappers resisted that is why the police opened fire killing at least 3 suspects,” he added. “We have already declared a lockdown in the city to capture the other suspects,” dela Rosa said.

Recovered from the kidnappers are a white Montero SUV, 1 M4 rifle, 3 KG9 rifles and 3 handguns. Also recovered from one of the kidnappers was an Army ring.

Dela Rosa said the suspects belong to a big syndicate which operates in key areas across the country. – Rappler.com