Police rescue kidnap victim in Camarines Sur

LIGAO CITY — Law enforcers rescued a resident of Tigaon town in Camarines Sur province from his abductors during a hot pursuit and dragnet operation in Iriga City on Wednesday, April 6, a police report said Thursday.

William Palanca, a resident of Sta. Cecilia Subdivision in Tigaon, was forced by three suspects to board a vehicle at around 5:15 p.m. in Barangay (village) San Nicholas, said Police Lt. Col. Carl Joseph Jaucian, Iriga City police officer-in-charge.

The police responded to the incident and rescued Palanca about an hour later at Zone 6, Barangay San Isidro, according to the police report.

Palanca, a hunter and retailer of agar wood, was reportedly lured by suspects Crisanto Palen, Jose Recio Jr., and Abdanie Bayabao to come to Iriga City pretending to be buyers.

The suspects, after being arrested, told police they kidnapped the victim due to a huge outstanding debt. The police report, however, did not specify details on the said debt.

The police report also did not say what the suspects were planning to do with Palanca if the abduction had been successful.

Jaucian said that during the rescue operation, police also recovered a loaded caliber .45 gun, an airsoft pistol, a bladed weapon with a scabbard, and a box of caliber .45 ammunition.

The suspects are now behind bars and will be charged with kidnapping and violation of the election gun ban.

RELATED STORIES

NCRPO says Malaysian, four Chinese rescued from abductors

3 arrested for alleged kidnapping, murder in Davao Oriental town