‘Kidnapper’ killed in police shootout

CEBU, Philippines — A suspected kidnapper was killed Sunday night after allegedly shooting it out with the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Group-Visayas Field Unit in Sitio Bantayan, Barangay Tungkop, Minglanilla, Cebu.

Police identified the fatality as Joavani Bogo, resident of the same barangay and alleged drug high-value target.

Police Staff Sergeant Ernest Laspuña, of Minglanilla Police Station, said that operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit were conducting surveillance operation when the suspect reportedly fired upon them resulting in a shootout that killed Bogo. A caliber .38 revolver was recovered from the suspect. 

Police Regional Office-7 director Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro said that Bogo was the primary suspect in the kidnapping incident in Cebu City last month. The kidnap-victim, whose identity the police withheld because of an ongoing investigation, was allegedly snatched from the parking lot of a private school on June 2 and remains missing until now.

“And yesterday when they were conducting surveillance, they were fired upon, so nagka armed encounter didto sa Minglanilla and that resulted to the death of that particular person who happens to be a drug personality,” Ferro said.

Ferro believes the kidnapping could be connected to the victim’s drug dealings with the suspect.

“Ana man gud na, pag di ka makabayad, di ka makaremit, or somebody that they suspect is a police informant, that drug syndicate will surely attack you, ana man ang modus operandi sa mga drug syndicate,” said Ferro.

Ferro has already ordered to intensify the operations to locate the kidnap victim.  FPL (FREEMAN)