Manila cops rescue woman from KFR gang

Operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) swooped down on a lodging inn at the Islamic Center in Quiapo yesterday and rescued a 22-year-old woman from a kidnap-for-ransom gang.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of four Maranao natives, one of whom allegedly also raped the woman following her abduction.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong identified the suspects as Cairodin Abdulhahman, 21; Jack Abdula, 27; Makaraya Samat, 25; and Mala Caurin, 20; all of the Islamic Center in Quiapo.

The victim positively identified Abdulhahman as the one who sexually abused her.

Initial reports showed the victim was abducted at gunpoint near the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City at around 5 p.m. Monday. The victim said the suspects, who introduced themselves as policemen, threatened her with drug charges.

She was then kept by the suspects in one of the rooms at the Alyssa Lodge inside the Islamic Center.

Through the victim’s cellular phone, the suspects contacted her family and demanded P300,000 for her release.

The victim’s family in turn sought the assistance of the MPD, which monitored the ransom negotiations.

After verifying the gang’s hideout, a rescue team led by Senior Superintendent Rafael Corpuz and Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante, through the cooperation of Datu Amerol Ambiong, chairman of the Metro Manila Muslim Peace and Order Coordinating Council, swooped down on the lodging inn yesterday noon.

Police initially arrested seven persons, but later released the three after the victim failed to identify them.

Recovered from the arrested suspects were two caliber .45 pistols with ammunition, two cellular phones and five grams of suspected shabu.

MPD-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief Superintendent Rolando Miranda said Abdula has a pending warrant of arrest for murder.

Bulaong said the suspects will undergo tactical interrogation to establish their other cohorts who may have eluded the police raid.

Initial charges of kidnap for ransom and illegal possession of firearms and prohibited drugs were filed against the suspects, while Abdulhahman also faces a separate charge of rape.