By AARON RECUENCO
Anti-kidnapping operatives of the Philippine National Police killed a former policeman and his colleague in a kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group in an operation in Binangonan, Rizal before dawn yesterday.
Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, director of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group, said the operation stemmed from the complaint of a woman who said that her son was abducted along with two others last June 3 in Barangay Macamot, Binangonan.
Estomo identified one of those killed in the operation as Police Patrolman Rafael Maray, a cop on Absent Without Official Leave and was charged in 2017 for robbery-extortion. 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.
Estomo said at least P200,000 have been paid for one of the victims prior to the operation but the suspects would not release him. All the three victims remain missing.
Maray was identified as one of the armed who forcibly took the victims.
During the operation in a subdivision, 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 Police Major 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.
