Kidnapped trader rescued in Rizal

MANILA, Philippines - A 34-year-old Chinese-Filipino businessman was rescued by agents of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) in an operation that left one suspect dead in Rodriguez, Rizal last Wednesday afternoon.

In a report to Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, PACER chief, said businessman Gerald Lao Tiu was seized in front of his Quezon City residence at around 11 a.m. that day.

Police said Tiu’s kidnappers had demanded P10 million as ransom.

Acting on information about the kidnapping, operatives of PACER, National Capital Region Police Office, Highway Patrol Group and the Quezon City police joined hands to intercept the suspects.

The suspects’ getaway vehicle was seen in Payatas, Quezon City but it eluded the pursuing lawmen somewhere in Rodriguez, Rizal.

After a thorough search, however, the suspects’ safehouse was eventually located in Rodriguez town and Tiu was rescued at around 3:30 p.m.

In the ensuing firefight, one of the suspects was killed, while his cohorts managed to escape.

Nerez said the group behind for the kidnapping is a newly organized one, composed of eight members and believed led by a former police officer. The group is tagged in two other recent abductions.

PACER agents are still tracking down the other suspects.