Kidnap suspects face gun charges

Illegal gun possession charges are expected to be filed today against two teenagers tagged in the abduction of a 16-year-old girl in Naga City, southern Cebu.

For the meantime, complaints  for illegal possession of firearms will be filed against Jojo Himarangan, 19 and Joey Dela Cruz, 19.

Chief Insp. George Ylanan, head of the Special Operations of the Regional Office in Central Visayas, said additional charges could be filed against them depending on the result of the investigation which aims to determine their involvement in the alleged abduction.

Ylanan said a KG-9 machine pistol with three bullets and a .38 revolver loaded with five bullets were recovered from the two men during their arrests Friday night.

Ylanan said investigators have already identified the suspected mastermind of the alleged abduction.

Ylanam, however, refused to identify the mastermind to avoid hampering operations to arrest him.

Ylanan added they are still waiting for the affidavit of the 16-year-old girl who is now in the custody of social workers.

Last Wednesday night, the girl was allegedly abducted by armed men outside a church in Naga City.

The victim was brought to an abandoned house in barangay Pung-ol Sibugay  in Cebu City where she was allegedly raped by the mastermind.

The  victim escaped on Thursday by jumping through the toilet’s window and ran towards Talisay City.

Himarangan and Dela Cruz were arrested after operatives of the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RATTF) and RSOG 7 went to the chicken farm where the girl was raped.

The two suspects were identified by the 16-year-old girl as one of the persons who who forcibly took her while she was walking along the road.

The suspects denied the accusations against them.

The Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, said Supt. Pablo Labra./CORRESPONDENT JOY CHERRY S. QUITO WITH REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS