By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
POLICE are preparing to press charges against three suspects in the kidnapping of a Chinese Filipino businessman’s son and a nanny in Bugo, this city. The suspects were wounded in a shootout and arrested in Marawi City over the weekend.
The shootout in Barangay Matampay, Marawi resulted in the killing of John Nasser Barao, 35, of Madalum, Lanao del Norte, a suspect in the Feb. 12 kidnapping near the Sacred Heart school in Barangay Bugo.
Supt. Gervacio Balmaceda, Camp Alagar spokesman, said three other suspects–Deleon Gumagadong of Lanao del Norte, Monte Sultan Macaantal, 59, and Michelle Mercedes, 29–were hurt in the shootout. They were rushed to the Amay Pacpac Medical Center in Marawi City.
Mercedes is an aunt of the kidnapped 1st grader.
Balmaceda said Senior Insp. Ramses Cartagena and PO3 Jeremy Rivera of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office’s intelligence unit were also wounded, and are now being treated at the Cagayan University Medical City in Barangay Gusa here.
Balmaceda said the Friday night shootout resulted from an operation jointly carried out by officers from Camp Alagar, Cocpo, Marawi and Lanao del Norte police, and the military to rescue the son of businessman Henry Dy and the 15-year old nanny.
The Dys are from Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, and own a business establishment in Puerto, this city.
Balmaceda said the boy and his nanny were taken by Mercedes and her group, and then brought to Marawi City from where they allegedly demanded a P2-million ransom. Following negotiations, he said, the kidnappers settled for P500 thousand which was recovered by authorities after the Marawi encounter.
Balmaceda said authorities flagged down the suspects’ Tamaraw FX with license plates UJK-940.
But he said the driver of the vehicle revved up the engine and tried to escape while another suspect fired shots at officers.
Balmaceda said the police fired back, hitting and killing Barao, and wounding other suspects.
Police found P500 thousand in cash, a caliber .45 pistol, a caliber .38 revolver, a grenade, and four cellphones from the suspects’ vehicle.
He said the two victims were unscathed but have to undergo treatment because they were traumatized.
City police director Senior Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera said the victims have been reunited with their families, and have to undergo psychotherapy post-traumatic examination and counselling.
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