Cops kill 4 suspected kidnappers in Davao

DAVAO CITY – Police shot and killed four suspected kidnappers during the rescue of a businessman here yesterday.

Southern Mindanao regional police director Chief Superintendent Andres Caro said the four suspects were killed by responding lawmen during a police operation to rescue Edgar Barroso, who was kidnapped last Sunday.

Caro initially identified the four slain suspects as members of the Balbacua kidnap for ransom gang, but police withheld the identities of the four slain suspects pending investigation. One of the suspects was reportedly a policeman assigned to the province’s regional mobile police group while another was said to be a soldier.

Barroso was abducted by the four suspects last Sunday while inside his office at the Flying V gasoline station in Barangay Panacan of this city.

Caro said they were able to trace the kidnappers after finding Barroso’s Mitsubishi Pajero van abandoned at Barangay Cabantian a few hours after the abduction.

Caro said a joint police operation was launched following initial intelligence reports revealed the kidnappers brought Barroso to a safehouse at Spring Valley Subdivision in nearby Barangay Buhangin, a few kilometers from where the abandoned van was found.

Initial reports said the raiding policemen managed to surprise the suspects in their hideout, but they fought back and were shot in the encounter.

Caro said the raiding lawmen recovered two .45 caliber and 9 mm. pistols from the slain suspects.

   –Edith Regalado