OPERATIVES of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) nabbed last Monday a 42-year-old man in Quezon City involved in the botched kidnapping of four victims.
The suspect was identified as Jose Rea, a resident of Upper Bicutan, Taguig City.
The victims were identified as Jay Quinones, Mario Esio, Angelica Nibungco and Dexter Timbas, residents of Caloocan City and Malabon City.
The victims were supposed to inspect a land in Silang, Cavite being pawned by one Julian Paningbatan, who is detained at the Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
On the instruction of Paningbatan, Quinones’ group, aboard a Mitsubishi Montero and a motorcycle, picked up four others — two in Tondo, Manila and two others in Taguig City.
One of the two men picked up by the victims in Tondo, Manila was later identified as Rea, police said.
“Upon arrival in Silang, Cavite, the victims saw another two unidentified male persons,” the QCPD said in a statement.
After a conversation, police said Quinones and his companions told the suspects they were leaving.
“But suddenly, suspect Rea and his cohorts pulled out their respective handguns and at gun-point took the belongings of the victims,” the QCPD said.
The suspects blindfolded and tied the victims and demanded P2 million in ransom from each of them. They later took the victims’ Montero and travelled to Manila with the four victims.
Police said four of the suspects later alighted, leaving only Rea and a driver in the vehicle with the victims.
While trapped in a traffic jam on the north-bound lane of Edsa in Barangay Unang Sigaw, Balintawak, Quezon City, police said “the victims got the chance to grab the firearm of suspect Rea until the victims were able to held the suspect while the unidentified driver managed to escape.”
The commotion caught the attention of members of barangay public safety officers and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel on duty in the area.
“They (barangay and MMDA personnel) immediately reported the incident to PS-3 (Police Station 3 of QCPD) patrolling officers nearby the area who immediately responded, which resulted in the arrest of Rea,” the QCPD said.
Seized from Rea’s possession were a 9 mm pistol with six ammunition and a cellphone owned by Quinones.
Investigators are set to file charges of kidnapping and illegal detention, grave coercion, carnapping, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition against Rea.
