CAMP GEN. PANTALEON GARCIA, Imus City, Cavite – Three alleged members of a kidnap-for-ransom group led by a former policeman were killed in a shootout in Barangay Kayquit I, Indang, this province, yesterday.
A tip-off led police to the hideout of the group led by former Police Staff Sgt. Magdaleno F. Pacia Jr. in the area.
Armed with a search warrant, the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group and Indang police conducted an operation against Pacia at 2:48 a.m.
The suspects saw and opened fire at the approaching policemen.
Police retaliated and killed the three suspects, one of whom was identified only as “Vince.” Police Col. William M. Segun, Cavite police director, said that Vince was Pacia’s trusted henchman.
The two other fatalities were not immediately identified.
Recovered from the suspects were an M-16 rifle, a Beretta and .45 caliber pistols, and their red Suzuki Ertiga.
The group was tagged as responsible for a number of KFR incidents with Chinese as victims in Metro Manila and elsewhere.
Police Major Mark Jason Gatdula, Indang police officer-in-charge, confirmed the group’s kidnapping activities.
Pacia, a policeman assigned to the Southern Police District, was reportedly dismissed from the service when he went absence without leave in 2016.
A manhunt operation against Pacia, who was not around in the house during the encounter, has been launched. (Anthony Giron)
