3 kidnap suspects fall

Three suspects in the kidnapping of a Mindanaoan trader were arrested by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) and were presented in Malacañang yesterday.

PAOCTF chief Director Hermogenes Ebdane said criminal charges are being readied against Police Officer 2 Bobby Mangondato, 41, assigned with the Aviation Security Group (ASG); Alex Macarimbang, 35, and Allan Tomawis, 41, all residents of Maharlika Village, Taguig.

PAOCTF Luzon head, Superintendent Allan Purissima, said the victim identified as Jalil Omar Macabato was rescued unharmed by the task force agents.

Investigation revealed Macabato was about to board his Honda Civic car (WHA-885) when three armed men onboard a white Tamarraw FX (UED-900) abducted him. The incident happened in front of the victim’s residence on Calamba Street in Sampaloc, Manila at 1:30 p.m. last Monday.

Three hours later, the victim’s wife and a female companion informed the Pasay City police about the abduction which alerted PAOCTF.

Witnesses informed the police that the suspects demanded a P200,000 ransom from the victim’s family.

At about 6:25 p.m. Monday, a team formed by Purisima and Pasay City police chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez were dispatched to an area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport II in Pasay City where the kidnappers agreed to meet the victim’s wife for a pay-off.

The suspects pursued their negotiations with the victim’s wife, not knowing that the telephone calls were being monitored by the police.

At around 9:45 p.m., police agents swooped down at the arrival area of the NAIA Centennial Terminal, leading to the arrest of Mangondato and Tomawis. Macabato was rescued from the third suspect, Macarimbang, while waiting onboard a taxicab.

Also seized from the suspects were the victim’s car, a caliber .45 pistol, three units of Nokia cellular phones, and the ransom money amounting to P200,000.