Suspect in kidnapping of BIR execs slain in shootout

MANILA, Philippines — A suspect in the kidnapping of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials was killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in Marilao, Bulacan yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office director, identified the fatality as Leo dela Fuente, whom he described as “one of the main players of the group.”

Eleazar said law enforcers were serving a search warrant at the hideout of a kidnap gang in Barangay Loma de Gato at around 2:10 a.m. when Dela Fuente opened fire.

Police said two 9mm pistols, a .38-caliber revolver, two M16 rifles, a hand grenade, a knife, various types of ammunition, four sets of police uniforms, a police jacket and three vehicles were recovered at the scene.

Simultaneous police operations were also launched at the hideouts of the alleged cohorts of Dela Fuente identified as Romeo Manalastas, Joever Garcia and Lloyd Antonio in Barangay Loma de Gato, Marilao; Muzon, San Jose del Monte, also in Bulacan, and Urduja Village in Caloocan City, respectively. The suspects eluded arrest.

Garcia’s wife Rosalinda, their children Christine Joyce and Joseph Nicholas and Julieto Terin were taken into police custody.

Eleazar said the suspects have been under surveillance for more than a year.

Active and former cops

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said they received reports that the other members of the group are former and active police officers.

“Hindi pa namin identified kung sino,” Albayalde told reporters on the sidelines of the National Summit on Crime Prevention at the Manila Hotel.

He said it is likely that a BIR insider is in cahoots with kidnap gang members.

President Duterte had earlier ordered the PNP to look into reports that at least 15 BIR officials have been kidnapped since 2013.

No complaints

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said he also received reports on the kidnapping of BIR officials during his term as PNP chief, but no victim surfaced to file a complaint.

Dela Rosa said it is possible that the victims do not want to be investigated.

“Nobody dared to go to authorities... No official investigation was done...baka takot na imbestigahan din na mayaman sila,” he said. “Kasi matatanong sila how they were able to produce that sum of money and pay ransom.” – With Cecille Suerte Felipe