Anti-kidnapping operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) killed a former policeman and another member of a kidnap-for-ransom group in a follow-up operation in Binangonan town of Rizal before dawn on Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, director of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), said the operation stemmed from the complaint of a woman who said that her son was abducted along with two others on June 3 in Barangay Macamot in Binangonan town.
He identified one of those killed in the operation as Patrolman Rafael Maray a cop on AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) who was charged in 2017 also for robbery extortion case. The other slain suspect is still unidentified.
“They were part of a criminal syndicate which is composed mostly of dismissed policemen,” said Estomo.
“This kind of operation is aimed at hunting down all dismissed police personnel who have been involved in illegal activities as part of the internal cleansing program of the Philippine National Police,” said Estomo.
Prior to the operation, Estomo said at least P200,000 was already paid for the release of one of the victims but the suspects would not release him. All the three kidnapped persons remain missing.
Maray was identified as one of the armed men who forcibly took the three victims.
During a follow-up operation in a subdivision in Binangonan, AKG operatives spotted a white van which matched the description of a vehicle being used by the group. As AKG operatives tried to intercept the vehicle, a shootout occurred.
“Our operatives were shot at while approaching the vehicle which triggered a brief shootout,” said Maj. Ronaldo Lumactod, AKG spokesman.
Lumactod said two of the suspects died on the spot while at least three others were able to escape.
Seized from the van were two handguns and an M16 rifle.