Cops gun down suspect in abduction of BIR officials

MANILA, Philippines – A suspect in the abduction of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials was killed during a police operation Thursday morning in Bulacan.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar told INQUIRER.net that the suspect, Leo dela Fuente was killed in a safehouse in Marilao, Bulacan during a joint operation of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and NCRPO.

Eleazar said dela Fuente was a member of a notorious kidnapping group that targets government officials.

“Yung grupo nila malaking kidnapping group. Yung grupo na yun, they victimized [government] officials,” Eleazar said in a phone interview.

Eleazar said the PNP tracked down dela Fuente through intelligence gathering and information from some victims who requested anonymity.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde previously disclosed that they have been investigating the kidnapping of at least 15 wealthy BIR officials./gsg

READ: PNP looking into alleged kidnapping of rich BIR execs