With notorious kidnapper inside, police heightens security in Koronadal jail

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines - The local police on Sunday deployed more policemen in the surroundings of Koronadal City Jail where a high risk detainee, notorious kidnapper Khadafy Guimelon, was clamped down in connection with the deadly September 18 pawnshop heist here.

Guiamelon pleaded not guilty in the robbery incident during his arraignment in a local court just before weekend.

Guiamelon, who allegedly led bloody robbery of the Agencia Brillantes along Osmeña Street here, also denied his involvement in the abduction of more than 30 people in Central Mindanao in years past.

The city government on Saturday raised to P250,000 the reward offered in exchange for any information that would lead to the arrest of the five other gunmen behind the pawnshop robbery.

City Mayor Peter Miguel first offered P50,000 “earnest money,” but decided to increase the amount due to the difficulty in locating the suspect’s whereabouts.

Guiamelon is now detained at a local police facility, awaiting prosecution. He was arrested three days after the incident in a residential area in Cotabato City.

Guiamelon’s five accomplices remain at large, now subject of a joint police and military manhunt.

Two security guards were killed in the attack while two responding watchmen from nearby establishments were shot and wounded as they tried to prevent the robbers’ escape.

Two minors were wounded in the ensuing crossfire.

The gunmen took with them some P600,000 worth of jewelry as they fled using getaway motorcycles parked nearby.

Judge Lorenzo Balo, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 24 here, set a pre-trial of Guiamelon’s case on October 22.