OPERATIVES of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group killed a member of a kidnap-for-ransom group in a shootout in Claveria town in Misamis Oriental on Monday, it was reported yesterday.
AKG spokesman Maj. Ronaldo Lumactod identified the fatality as Arnel Saguilong, a member of a kidnapping group operating in Lanao del Sur who had a standing warrant of arrest for rape.
Lumactod said Saguilong is also a member of the communist New People’s Army’s Guerrilla Front-4B operating in Gingoog City and in the towns of Medina and Claveria, all in Misamis Oriental.
He said Saguilong is accused of raping his stepdaughter in Lanao del Sur in 2015. Saguilong went into hiding after the victim and her biological father filed a rape case against him.
AKG operatives, aided by PNP Special Action Force and Claveria policemen, swooped down at the suspect’s lair in Sitio Kodiac, Barangay Ani-e in Claveria at around 3:55 a.m. to serve the arrest warrant.
Saguilong resisted arrest and opened fire at the lawmen, hitting one of them in the chest portion of an armored vest. The policemen shot back, killing Saguilong. Recovered from Saguilong was a cal.357 revolver with four bullets.
Lumactod said Saguilong was involved in the kidnapping of Thelma Lalisan and Alex Bagnol at the Marawi State University in Marawi City on January 25, 2017.
He said the kidnappers initially demanded a P2 million ransom for the victims’ release but lowered this to P500,000. The victims were eventually released on February 10, 2017 after ransom was paid.
