FIVE suspected kidnappers and a policewoman were killed in a firefight between uniformed armed men and police operatives in San Pablo City, Laguna, on Tuesday morning, an official said.
Four of the armed suspects were killed on the spot while the other was critically wounded and was brought to a nearby hospital but died an hour later, said Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, head of the Quezon provincial police.
He said policewoman Sarah Andal and four other policemen were wounded during the shootout and were taken to the San Pablo Hospital, where Andal died while undergoing treatment.
The encounter took place after operatives of the Quezon and San Pablo City police and the Camp Crame-based Anti-Kidnapping Group responded to a reported abduction of Ronaldo Arguelles, who was taken somewhere in Candeleria town in Quezon on Monday.
Armameanto said before the shootout, they received reports that Arguelles was herded by the suspects outside his house around 6 p.m. Monday, prompting them to call for assistance from the Anti-Kidnapping Group.
Two hours after the kidnapping, negotiations between the armed men and Arguelles’ family regarding the pay-off area was reached for the eventual release of the kidnap victim in exchange for P700,000.
As the suspects on board an Izuzu Sportivo proceeded to the pay-off area, one of the suspects, upon seeing the policemen, fired at them and that forced the operatives to retaliate.
The firefight took place along Maharlika Highway in San Nicolas village in San Pablo City, and it resulted in the killing of all four suspects. The fifth kidnapper died later in hospital.
Arguelles and a bystander were also wounded during the shootout.
Armamento said all the slain suspects were wearing fatigue uniforms similar to the PNP. However, he denied that they were members of the police force.
Armamento said they had yet to establish the true identities of the suspects.
Recovered from the suspects were one Thompson rifle, two cal. 45 pistols, two hand grenades and ammunition.
Armamento said the suspects had pretended to be policemen purposely to get the P700,000 from Arguelles.
