MANILA, Philippines — A former police officer tagged in kidnapping and his companion were killed in an alleged shootout in Binangonan, Rizal before dawn yesterday.
Former patrolman Ralph Rafael Maray, alleged leader of the Maray kidnap group, and his companion died at the scene following the incident that occurred at around 3:30 a.m. in Barangay Macamot.
Members of the police Anti-Kidnapping Group and Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group were conducting surveillance on Maray and his cohorts when they spotted the suspects in a white Nissan Urvan in Mabuhay Subdivision, according to AKG director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo.
The surveillance stemmed from the kidnapping of three persons in the same village on Friday, Estomo said.
Relatives reportedly paid P200,000 in ransom, but the suspects did not release the victims.
This prompted the victims’ relatives to seek police help.
The suspects reportedly drew their guns as the police officers approached them, triggering a shootout.
Probers said they recovered a pistol and a rifle from the scene of the shootout.
Police have launched a manhunt for the other members of the group.
Records show Maray went AWOL or absent without leave in July 2017 after he was charged with robbery and extortion.
Maray was dismissed from the service for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Fake cop
Meanwhile, in Cavite, a man posing as a police officer and recruiting people to join the police force has been arrested in General Trias City.
The suspect, identified as Rajib Ampuan, will be charged with robbery extortion, estafa, illegal use of police uniform and insignia, and usurpation of authority, according to the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The arrest stemmed from the complaint of an applicant, who said Ampuan promised to get him into the police force in exchange for P40,000.
The complainant said Ampuan was in a police uniform when he approached him to make the offer.
The arresting team recovered from the suspect a complete set of police uniform and documents of five applicants.