THE Philippine National Police has neutralized a kidnapping syndicate victimizing Indian nationals.
“I am pleased to announce the neutralization of a kidnapping for ransom syndicate led by an Indian national that victimizes fellow Indians who are doing business in the country,” said PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in a press conference Monday in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Gurmeet Singh, one of the leaders of the supposed kidnapping syndicate, was arrested in a follow-up operation by the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group led by Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
Singh was identified as the suspect who received the ransom payment from the family of kidnap victim Harvinder Singh who was abducted on March 9 at Barangay Sta. Barbara in Llanera, Nueva Ecija and was freed only last March 25.
During the same press conference, Dela Rosa presented to media the members of kidnapping ring led by the Indian who were all arrested in Nueva Ecija.
“This successful operation was made possible through the cooperation of the victim’s family who immediately reported the kidnapping to the PNP. This goes to show how the police can work effectively with the cooperation of the victims,” Dela Rosa said.
The three other members of the syndicate were arrested in separate follow-up operations in Lupao and Rizal towns, also in Nueva Ecija.
They were identified as Jerry Cabading, alias “Tolox,” and Francis Castro alias “Gorilla,” both of Barangay Agupalo Weste in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, and Gregorio Peña, alias “Jun-Jun,” of Barangay Canaan East, Rizal, Nueva Ecija.
Recovered from the suspects were three handguns, a grenade and the P600,000 ransom money.
The recovered ransom will be returned to the victim while the firearms and explosives will form part of material evidence to be presented in court in the criminal case against the suspects.
The PNP-AKG is now conducting pursuit operations against another leader of the group identified as Kikker Singh, who remains at-large.
The syndicate is believed to be involved in eight other KFR cases, mostly involving Indian victims, in Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija and Metro Manila, including the kidnapping of Rakesh Kumar Sanny Singh in Nueva Ecija last May 2016.