Suspected kidnapper killed, another hurt in rescue of 6-yr-old boy

DAVAO City, Philippines—Southern Mindanao police authorities on Thursday killed a kidnap suspect and wounded another during a raid aimed at recovering a six-year old boy who was kidnapped here earlier this week and taken to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

The boy was later recovered unharmed from the custody of a couple, who said the boy was earlier entrusted to them by two men.

Superintendent Antonio Rivera, spokesman of the Davao City Police Office, said that based on the report furnished them, operatives of the Southern Mindanao police stormed the kidnappers’ hideout in Barangay (village) Sibulan.

A suspect, identified as Ferdinand Phala, 26, was killed when he reportedly fired at the approaching operatives, Rivera said.

Phala’s companion, Joel Moda, 18, yielded.

Rivera said the two suspects were among the group of four men, who snatched the victim from the Matina Elementary School here on Monday.

The group initially demanded a P2-million ransom from the boy’s family but later agreed to lower the demand to P180,000.

Rivera said a manhunt against the two other suspects was being conducted while a charge for kidnapping was being prepared against Moda.

He also said that based on their investigation, it was the first time the suspects engaged in a kidnap-for-ransom activity.