Suspect slain as OFW rescued from kidnappers

CEBU CITY—A kidnapping suspect was killed in a clash with law enforcers past noon Monday in Barangay (village) San Roque, Talisay City, during a pay-off for a kidnapped overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Another suspect has been arrested.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas identified the slain suspect as Wane Tiaño of Barangay Tangke in Talisay City. The arrested suspect was identified as Ronelo Roble.

The kidnap victim, Reneboy Agraviador, was rescued unharmed by NBI agents, according to NBI regional director Antonio Pagatpat.

Agraviador, who worked abroad in construction projects and returned home in January, was talking with a friend in a bakery on Rabaya Street, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, around

9 p.m. Sunday when five-motorcycle riding armed men grabbed him, according to the NBI.

P50,000 ransom

The suspects forced him to ride a motorcycle and took him to Barangay Lawaan, also in Talisay City.

The kidnappers got in touch with Agraviador’s live-in partner, Minerva Laborada, to demand a P50,000 ransom and setting the time and place for the pay-off.

Laborada sought the help of the NBI in Central Visayas, which formed a 10-man team to handle the kidnapping case.

The team, led by agent Hermie Monsanto, accompanied Laborada during the pay-off at 12:30 p.m. Monday in front of a private cemetery in Barangay San Roque.

When the kidnappers accepted the cash, the NBI agents identified themselves and declared an arrest. Some of the suspects opened fire, prompting the NBI agents to return fire.

Three suspects, who served as lookouts, escaped on a motorcycle and are now being hunted by the NBI and police.

Village watchman

The NBI recovered the P50,000 ransom money, the motorcycles used by the suspects, bonnets, helmets and the identification card of Tiaño showing that he was a member of a village watchmen’s group.

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

Pagatpat said the kidnapping group could be considered as neophytes.

Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr., Cebu City police chief, said there have been no reports of any kidnap-for-ransom gangs operating in Cebu City.

Kidnappings are known to be rampant in some areas of Mindanao where the bandit group Abu Sayyaf and other armed gangs operate. With a report from Chito Aragon, Inquirer Visayas