Davao continues to cement itself as the anti-crime capital of the Philippines. This time, Davao police ambushed members of the Manila's notorious "Bye Bye" kidnap gang.
The victim was a businesswomen kidnapped in Manila. She convinced abductors to complete the transaction in Davao. There, at a bank, three members of the gang were killed, one was captured and ten are on the run.
This gang operated for years in Manila. Yet, the first time they enter Davao, they get ambushed. Wonder why this cannot happen in Manila?
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Duterte issues shoot-to-kill order
DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gave the local police a shoot-to-kill order against all armed criminals who enter the metropolis.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Ronald dela Rosa said this was the order of Duterte before they launched the daring assault that killed three kidnappers on Thursday.
The same order goes to the suspects’ fleeing cohorts.
The police chief said after he was informed last Wednesday by the Anti-Kidnapping Group in Camp Crame that a kidnap-for-ransom group is heading to Davao together with its victim, he immediately informed the mayor.
He said after relaying the message to Duterte, he regularly gives him updates on the situation until the assault Thursday.
The police operation also led to the rescue of the kidnap victim Sally Chua, a 51-year-old Filipino-Chinese businesswoman from Quezon City.
Chua was kidnapped inside her office last July 5, but convinced her abductors into making the payoff in Davao City.
Dela Rosa said they have launched a manhunt for 10 members of a kidnap-for-ransom group who escaped following the shootout between Special Weapons and Tactic (Swat) team and the three kidnappers.
He admitted though that there is a possibility the kidnappers have left the metropolis already.
Dela Rosa led the Swat team in gunning down three kidnappers in a shootout outside the Allied Bank branch around 11:30 a.m. Thursday as the suspects were escorting Chua, who supposed to withdraw P15 million in ransom money. Another kidnapper was also arrested by police.
Police cars full of personnel from the DCPO roamed the city's major thoroughfares and its outskirts Thursday night to hunt down the kidnappers on board two white Mitsubishi Montero SUVs.
Several road blocks were also established while security was also tightened at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport as authorities hinted the organized crime group members may use this as a possible escape route.
Until Friday noon, police search proved negative.
Dela Rosa said the kidnappers could have also hid their vehicles and decided to break up to avoid police detection.
He called on the public to be vigilant and to report to authorities if they spot a white Montero car with suspicious-looking persons onboard.
"Nanawagan mi sa publiko nga basi naa mo'y makit-an nga duha ha white Montero diha (We are calling on the public if you happen to see two white Montero cars there)," Dela Rosa said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa identified the slain kidnappers as Daryl Mortejo, Edilberto Aparri, and alias Yoyong. He said it was the arrested suspect Ramil Macamay Gudito, who is from Bukidnon.
The DCPO chief said Chua and Gudito took a 7:20 p.m. flight from Davao Thursday to Camp Crame.
Dela Rosa said the Montero vehicle used by the slain kidnappers was registered to one Eden Silanga of San Mateo, Rizal.
Silanga could be a possible financier of the crime group and is now the subject of a police investigation, according to Dela Rosa.
The bullet-riddled Montero car is now at the DCPO compound in Camp Domingo Leonor for further examination.
Dela Rosa also said that of the seven firearms recovered from the kidnappers, only two have records with the Firearms and Explosives Division of the Philippine National Police. These are the M4 and .9 mm. caliber pistol. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)