3 suspects in kidnapping case nabbed in Nueva Ecija

GAPAN CITY — Three suspected kidnappers were on Friday, Jan. 26, for holding a 23-year-old woman for ransom, after she was abducted on Jan. 19, according to a belated police report.

Jerome Jalova, 22, and Jonardo Baay, 23, were caught retrieving P7,600 in cash from a branch of Smart Pera Padala, money remittance center, in Barangay Bayanihan here, Supt. Peter Madria, chief of the Gapan City Police Station, said.

The missing woman’s father, Eufrocino Deligiado, 63, alerted the police about a series of text messages indicating that his daughter, Mylene, had been taken and would be freed in exchange for P7,600.

Jeffrey, Jalova’s 30-year-old brother, allegedly sent the text messages. He was arrested in Barangay Lourdes in Cabiao town, Madria said.

But the suspects had not informed the police about the kidnapped woman’s whereabouts.

Mylene was on her way home from Cavite where she visited siblings. But she never arrived home and her family lost contact, her father said.

Speaking to newsmen, Jeffrey denied abducting the woman. He said he learned about Mylene’s disappearance over social media. He merely tried to trick Deligiado into thinking he hathe woman.

But the police said the suspects could have only contacted Deligiado using the missing woman’s mobile telephone. The online reports did not include Deligiado’s number.

The suspects claimed they asked for the specific amount of money because it was how much Mylene’s boyfriend had borrowed from them, allegedly to buy crystal meth, or shabu.

Deligiado said his daughter did not have a boyfriend.

Madria said a follow-up operation had been mounted to arrest four other persons of interest and to search for Deligiado’s daughter. /atm