3 kidnap victims rescued, 5 suspects slain in Cavite raid

MANILA, Philippines - Police gunned down five suspected kidnappers and rescued their three victims in Gen. Trias, Cavite before dawn yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao, newly designated Calabarzon police director, said kidnap victims Pavitter Singh, Balvir Singh and Luciano Clemen were rescued from the suspects’ safehouse in Barangay Santiago, Gen. Trias town at around 2:35 a.m. yesterday.

The three were later brought to the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City for proper documentation.

The five slain suspects remained unidentified as of press time.

Found in their possession were three caliber .45 automatic pistols, a caliber 9-mm pistol, a caliber .38 revolver, and a Toyota Avanza with license plate ZMU 370.

The three victims were snatched in Marilao, Bulacan last Thursday.

Joint elements of the Cavite, Bulacan and Quezon City police, PACER and Special Operations Group stormed the suspects’ hideout in Gen. Trias after confirming reports that the three victims were there.

Senior Superintendent Danilo Maligalig, Cavite police director, said two of the kidnappers were killed in the ensuing gunfight.

The three other suspects managed to escape on board a red Toyota Avanza but the policemen gave chase.

Policemen manning a checkpoint in Imus town opened fire at the suspects when they refused to stop for inspection as part of the implementation of the nationwide gun ban for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Pagdilao commended the joint police team for a job well done.    – With Arnell Ozaeta