Navotas trader rescued; kidnap suspect arrested

A Filipino-Chinese businesswoman was rescued unharmed by police and one of three kidnap-for-ransom suspects was arrested in Navotas early Saturday night.

In a report to Northern Police District Office (NPDO) director Senior Superintendent Vidal Querol, Navotas police commander Superintendent Roberto Villanueva identified the suspect as Danilo Mendoza, 24, of Gen. De Jesus Street, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City. Mendoza’s two cohorts, identified only by their aliases "Freddie" and "Nadie," allegedly residents of Barangay Lawa, Calamba, Laguna, eluded arrest when NPDO and Navotas’ intelligence operatives led by Superintendent Danilo Cabato, cornered them along C-3 Road in the Dagat-Dagatan area.

PO3 Rafael Espadero, officer-on-case, said 37-year-old Vertiza Tan, of 69 Escoda Street, San Rafael Village, Navotas, was rescued from her abductors at around 7 p.m. near C-3 Road while on board Tan’s vehicle, an Elf delivery van (WNP 139).

Tan said that at around 6 p.m., the suspects blocked the van driven by Tan herself as the vehicle entered the gate of her residence. One of the suspects grabbed the wheel from Tan and pushed her between him and Mendoza who got in from the passenger side and poked a gun at her. The suspects then ordered three of her employees who were with her, Maritess Tibayan, Gemma Lyn Bon and Rico Sabuero, to alight from the vehicle before they sped away.

Tan said Mendoza told her not to be afraid or resist since he did not intend to hurt her.

Unknown to the suspects, Tibayan had dialed police hotline 117 and Villanueva’s men were soon lying in wait at all possible interception points.

"As we neared C-3, we were met by the police called in by Maritess. They got Nilo (Mendoza) while the other two scampered away and escaped," Tan said in Filipino. – Pete Laude