No ransom was paid for Dominga Chu, 65. NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes said the kidnappers had originally demanded P15 million in ransom, and later reduced it to P10 million.
An ailing President Arroyo welcomed Chu at Malacañang yesterday.
"I am happy to get out of my sickbed for a few minutes to welcome Mrs. Dominga Chu who was rescued at 6:30 this morning by our anti-kidnapping task force," she said.
Reyes said his men and NBI agents arrested 10 of Chu’s suspected kidnappers during the raid in an abandoned grocery store in Barangay Maligaya.
Four of the suspects were identified as Ricky Lagado, 29; Edwin Delfin, 26; Marvin Peralta, 28; and Joselito Tamayo, 23.
Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the National Capital Region Command, said the eight other kidnappers are being hunted down by his men.
They are Dilimar Cawaling, Joselito Tamayo, Edwin Lagramada, Alejandro Morat, Ricky Lagardo, Arnold Graganza, Danilo Bernal, and Anacleto Lagramada,
Reyes said an informer who lives near the kidnappers’ hideout called up authorities for fear that the life of his family might be endangered by the presence of the armed men.
"Upon confirmation that a kidnap victim is indeed in the area, joint elements of the NBI and National Capital Region Command swooped down on the residence of Delfin... and rescued kidnap victim Dominga Chu, who is being guarded by two of her abductors," he said.
Reyes said they have already identified the mastermind, but refused to give any names.
"We have the identities of the kidnappers, and we’re tracking them down," he said.
Reyes said the suspected kidnappers belong to the Waray-Waray kidnap gang, which also snatched and killed Coca- Cola Export Corp. finance manager Betti Sy Chua on Nov. 17 last year.
The suspects were charged with kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, he added.
Chu told reporters at Malacañang she would ask the NBI to give her protection.
"First of all, nagpapasalamat ako kay Madam President Gloria Arroyo at sa gobyerno natin, lahat ho ng tulong at saka si General Wycoco, si General Braganza at saka lahat po ng tulong na nagpunta doon nag-ano ng kidnappers, napakagaling po sila," she said.
John Kaw, representative of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, lauded authorities for rescuing Chu.
"We were happy that she was rescued practically unharmed and there was no ransom paid," he said. "According to Mrs. Chu, this is the best Chinese New Year gift given to her by the President and the government."
Chu was snatched Jan. 21 by four heavily armed men in front of the Seventh Day Adventist church along Donada street near the corner of Gil Puyat and Taft avenues in Pasay City.
Witnesses said she was walking home when a Hyundai van without license plates blocked her path, and two men got out and dragged her into the van. — With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude