Phl’s 5th most wanted kidnap suspect nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - A dismissed Army soldier, tagged by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the country’s fifth most wanted kidnap suspect, was arrested in the Bicol Region last Friday.

Former Pfc. Rodante Cabaylo, 37, did not resist arrest when police officers collared him at his home in Barangay Del Rosario, Naga City in Camarines Sur.

Senior Superintendent Fernando Mendez, chief of the regional police Intelligence Group (IG), said Cabaylo’s arrest stemmed from his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Sally Chua in Quezon City in 2013.

Quezon City Judge Bernelito Fernandez recommended no bail for the suspect’s temporary liberty.

Mendez said Cabaylo had a P300,000-bountry on his head. He said the suspect was placed under the custody of the Regional Intelligence Unit 5 (RIU-5) in Bicol and would be turned over to PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo this week.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, chief of PNP’s Task Force Tugis, said the suspect was among seven men who allegedly kidnapped Chua in Barangay Philam, Quezon City on July 5, 2013.

Lee said the group demanded P100 million for Chua’s release, but later reduced the amount to P15 million. The victim’s family sent the money to a bank in Davao City.

The group was withdrawing the money on July 12 when police officers engaged them in a firefight, which resulted in the death of three of the suspects – Pfc Daniel Mortejo, Leo Miranda and Edilberto Apari – and the rescue of Chua.

Aside from Cabaylo arrested earlier were Reccente Padillo, the alleged mastermind of Chua’s kidnapping, and Ramil Macamay. Police have yet to arrest another suspect, Erick Gonzaga.

Lee said Cabaylo allegedly escorted Padillo when the group brought Chua to Davao City right after she was kidnapped. He said Cabaylo was at the bank, but managed to escape before the encounter occurred.

Lee said Cabaylo was formerly assigned with the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon.

“He has a wife in Bicol so we presumed that he was hiding there until an informant tipped us,” he said.