Kidnap suspect killed, victim rescued in Cebu police operation

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CEBU CITY, Philippines — A suspected kidnapper was killed, Monday noon, in an alleged shootout with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation during a payoff for a kidnapped overseas Filipino worker in Barangay (village) San Roque, Talisay City.

The NBI identified the slain suspect as Wane Tiano of Sitio San Rafael, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City.

The kidnap victim, Reneboy Agrabiador, was rescued unharmed but an NBI agent, who was not identified, was wounded during the shootout, according to a television report.

The NBI also arrested Ronelo Roble, one of the suspects who reportedly served as the driver during the kidnapping of Agrabiador.

Agrabiador, who worked as a construction worker abroad and had returned to Cebu in January, was visiting a friend in a bakery in Rabaya St., Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, at around 9 p.m. on Sunday when five motorcycle-riding men with firearms grabbed him and forced him to board a motorcycle.

He was brought to an undetermined place in Barangay Lawaan, Talisay City.

The kidnappers then contacted Agrabiador’s live-in partner, Minerva Labrada, asking for a P50,000-ransom and setting the time and place for the pay-off. Labrada, however, sought the help of the NBI in Central Visayas.

A 10-man NBI team led by Special Agent Hermie Monsanto accompanied Labrada during the pay-off at 12:30 p.m. in front of a private cemetery in Barangay San Roque.

When the kidnappers received the cash, the NBI agents identified themselves and declared the arrest of the suspects.

Tiano, however, fired at the NBI agents, who returned fire, killing Tiano.

Three other suspected kidnappers who reportedly served as lookouts escaped and are now being pursued by the NBI and the Philippine National Police.

Agrabiador was unharmed during the exchange of gunfire.

The NBI recovered the P50,000 ransom money, the motorcycles used by the suspects, some bonnets, helmets and the identification card of Tiano showing that he was a member of Bantay Bayan and Unified Security Group.

Roble, however, said he did not know what Tiano, his neighbor, was planning and that he was only hired to drive a motorcycle.

NBI-7 Regional Director Antonio Pagatpat said that the kidnapping group could be considered as local boys as they were not experts in carrying out the crime.