GMA presents kidnap suspect

President Arroyo paraded yesterday the latest suspected kidnap gang leader captured in the government’s campaign against crime.

A handcuffed Arnel Suellen, No. 17 on the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF)’s "most wanted" list, was presented to the press by Mrs. Arroyo and task force chief Angelo Reyes at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City shortly before she boarded the presidential aircraft for her election campaign tour.

Mrs. Arroyo also crossed out a picture of Suellen on the NAKTF’s "Wanted" poster of kidnap suspects.

Suellen, 35, who had a P500,000 reward on his head, was wanted for abducting 10-year-old Martin Guevarra in Angeles City in Pampanga last Sept. 23.

The victim was kidnapped in front of his home and was released the following day.

Suellen was arrested after a tip from someone who recognized him from one of the NAKTF’s anti-kidnapping television commercials.

NAKTF agents cornered him at his mother’s house in Kalibo, Aklan.

Mrs. Arroyo urged the public to be on the watch for kidnap suspects still at large.

"I am thankful that the community is involved in our anti-kidnapping drive. The success of our anti-kidnapping campaign is greatly attributed to the vigilance and participation of the people," Mrs. Arroyo told reporters.

Suellen’s capture brings to eight the number of suspected kidnappers arrested in recent months after the Presidebt ordered a renewed crackdown on the heels of a rash of kidnappings for ransom.

Ten more kidnap suspects are on the NAKTF’s "Wanted" list.

The financially influential Chinese-Filipino community, which had been targeted by kidnappers, had called for action on the abductions.

Mrs. Arroyo is highlighting her anti-crime record as she runs for a six-year term in the May 10 elections. Surveys show that Mrs. Arroyo is still trailing opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr.

Under pressure from the Chinese-Filipino community, the President lifted a year-long moratorium on executions last December in a bid to reverse a rising crime wave.

Her decision, however, drew criticism from anti-death penalty advocates, including the influential Roman Catholic Church, accusing her of playing to the gallery.

Two convicted kidnappers, Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan, were scheduled to be executed by lethal injection last Jan. 30 but were given a month-long reprieve by the Supreme Court following a plea from their lawyers so their case could be reviewed.

Filipinos are divided on the death penalty issue.

Supporters say it was necessary to stem rising criminality. Opponents argue that the death penalty has not curbed crime and claim that more efficient law enforcement is the solution.

Capital punishment was abolished by the 1987 Philippine Constitution but the charter gave Congress an option of restoring it.

The death penalty was restored in 1994 for "heinous" crimes such as rape, kidnapping-for-ransom, murder and drug trafficking.

Seven convicts were put to death between 1999 and 2000. There were no executions since then. — With Sandy Araneta, AFP