CITY OF SAN FERNANDO —The police foiled a kidnapping attempt against Technical Education and Skills Development Authority regional director Teodoro Gatchalian by four armed men last Wednesday after they noticed a commotion at the parking lot of Rickshaw Restaurant, Greenfields Compound at Barangay Sindalan here.
Supt. Rechie Duldulao, City of San Fernando police chief, said one of the suspects has been arrested and is presently under investigation. The suspect was identified as John Rey Benitez, 25, of Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
Duldulao said the victim was about to leave Rickshaw’s parking lot on board a white Toyota Fortuner (TQN-956) after a dinner, when four occupants of a Blue Mitsubishi Sedan (PKX-961), all armed with handguns, appeared from behind with guns drawn and boarded Gatchalian’s vehicle at around 12 midnight.
Duldulao said the suspects took over the wheel and drove slowly while Gatchalian was hogtied with the use of nylon cord and packaging tape on board the victim’s vehicle.
She said policemen on mobile patrol caught the attention of the slow-moving vehicle which prompted them to check its occupants. It was then that Gatchalian saw an opportunity and yelled for help.
Three of the suspects immediately fled on board a separate getaway car leaving behind Benitez, said Duldulao.
Duldulao said the suspects are members of a Bulacan-based criminal gang and it appeared during the investigation that they were after the victim’s vehicle.
Gatchalian, a resident of Tyler’s Mansion Apartment, of Kalayaan Village Brgy. Quebiawan, was rescued safe and unhurt.
Seized from Benitez’s were an unlicensed caliber .38 revolver, and a bag containing one heavy duty packaging tape, a nylon rope and a piece of cloth.
A criminal complaint was filed against the suspect who remains in police custody.