Woman in kidnap of Australian expat nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police have arrested a woman tagged in the kidnapping of an Australian expatriate more than three years ago in Trento, Agusan del Sur.

Edeliza Ulep, alias Gina Perez, was arrested during a raid on Villa street in Trento at past midnight Tuesday, according to Senior Superintendent Celso Bael, officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga Sibugay police office.

Bael said Ulep had a standing arrest warrant for the kidnapping of Richard Warren Rodwell on Dec. 5, 2011.

Rodwell was snatched from his house in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and was released more than a year later in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Bael said Ulep was the one who received the ransom money paid for Rodwell’s release.

The suspect was brought to Zamboanga Sibugay police for proper documentation.