Kidnap for ransom group arrested by PNP

Miami
June 9, 2008
Story: Kidnap for ransom group arrested by PNP

Ten suspects, all members of Amolo group, has been arrested by the elements of Philippine National Police (PNP), for kidnapping an executive of a bank last June 3, 2008.

The Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) conducted the series of operations on the rescue of the bank official which was identified as Ramon Murillo, 62, consultant of Philippine National Bank main office in Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City.

PNP Chief Avelino Razon considered the group as “new players.” “Operatives of PACER, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, Manila Police District and the Pasay City Police Station launched a series of police operations in different parts of Metro Manila and Central Luzon against the Amolo Kidnapping and Robbery Group that was responsible for the abduction of PNB executive Ramon Murillo last June 3 in Quezon City,” Razon said.

Sr. Supt. Leonardo Espina, PACER Chief said the group was previously engaged in robbery cases in Cavite, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

The suspects were identified as (1) Melchor HERERRA alias Tong, 26 years old, of Pulong San Miguel, Talavera, Nueva Ecija; (2) Niño CARANGAN, 22, of Mataas na Kahoy, Gen Natividad, Nueva Ecija; (3) Crizaldo de GUZMAN alias Toti of Krus na Daan, San Ildefonso, Bulacan (who died of heart attack after interrogation); (4) Alven LACANDAZO, a mechanical technician of Landmass Park, Brgy Biga, Tanza, Cavite;(5) Armando AQUINIO alias Arnold, 40 years old, of 2530 Tomas Mapua St., Sta. Cruz, Manila; (6) Reggie Parungao REYES, 26, of Brgy Krus na Daan, San Rafael, Bulacan; (7) Florentino AMOLO alias Rene, of Brgy Barles, Cabanatuan City; (8) Edgardo HERNANDEZ alias Buboy, 42, of 1778 Interior 27 Antipolo St., Sta Cruz, Manila; (9) Jocelyn FEROLINO alias Joyce, 26, entertainer, residing in Pulong San Miguel, Talavera, Nueva Ecija; and (10) Reynante Amolo ALCAZAR alias Nante, the leader of the group.

Murillo was abducted in Quezon Avenue in front of Burger King at around 3:00 am of June 3, 2008. Murillo came from Heartbeat Club in Quezon City, when one of the suspect, Ferolino, approached him and asked help from the victim because she is carrying a big and heavy bag with clothes on it.

According to the victim he do not know where exactly he was because he was blindfolded. He just hear from his abductors that they were already in Nueva Ecija. He was brought in the suspect’s safe house which he described as warehouse.

When he was abducted, the suspects went inside his car get him to be blindfolded and ask him to sit at the back of the car.

The suspects were arrested in two different places. The first was last June 4, 12:30 pm through checkpoint in Rizal town of Nueva Ecija, wherein the suspects used the vehicle of their victim which is a Honda CRV. Recovered from the area were two .45 caliber and the identification card of Murillo.

Those were arrested in Nueva Ecija were, Melchor Herrera, Niño Carangan, Crizaldo de Guzman, and Alven Lacandzo.

According to Espina, they intended not to inform the arrest of the four suspects because the remaining kidnappers were still with the victim and they might kill Murillo.

The next arrest was happened last June 6, the same date when Murillo was rescued from the kidnappers. The kidnappers drop him off at 8:00 am in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City after the kidnappers asked for One million pesos Initially, the suspects asked for Php15-Million. But the family said they do not have enough money to raise Php15 M.

The family paid for the ransom money and left it in one place in SM Mall of Asia, the suspects get it and drop the victim their.

The police managed to chase the suspects and was able to arrest the remaining suspects in Blumentritt, Manila; Reggie Reyes, Florentino Amolo, and at around 11:00 am.

Recovered from them four .45 caliber, Ingram machine pistol, and Toyota Altis (ZHB-843).

The police went to the house of Armando Aquino in Sta. Cruz, Manila wherein they arrested Aquino, Reynante Alcazar Edgardo Fernandez, and Jocelyn Ferolino the one who asked help from the victim. They recovered here one Mitsubishi lancer (PFP-879) and amount of Php850,000.
The police is still searching for the remaining money and the warehouse where the suspects kept Murillo for three days.

The suspects in custody have been presented before inquest prosecutors of the Department of Justice who recommended No Bail for the respondents.