Cop killed rescuing Chinese kidnap victims

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer was killed while another was wounded during a rescue operation for two kidnapped Chinese women in Pampanga over the weekend, the Philippine National Police said.

The PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) planned the operation on Saturday morning after China’s police attaché Zheng Zhue informed them of the kidnapping of the two unidentified victims in Makati City on Aug. 3.

The kidnappers brought the two women to Angeles City, Pampanga, and reportedly demanded a ransom of P8 million, or 500,000 yen, the PNP report read.

READ: Remains of 2 kidnapped Chinese found in Camarines Sur

Shots fired

By early afternoon, members of the PNP-AKG raided a safehouse but a gunfight ensued with the suspects, Hu Kai and Ryu Don.

Police Staff Sgt. Nelson Santiago and Chief Master Sgt. Eden Accad were wounded in the encounter and brought to the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center in the same province. Santiago, however, was declared dead on arrival.

The two kidnap victims were rescued safely while their captors, who yielded handguns, knives, and drug paraphernalia, were placed under arrest.

The PNP said that both victims and the suspects were brought to the AKG headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, “for documentation and proper disposition.”