3 nabbed for kidnapping Korean in Pampanga

INQUIRER FILES

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Policemen arrested three people allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a 57-year-old Korean national in this city last week.

In a belated statement on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) said the victim, identified only as Mr. Park, was rescued on Oct. 24 by operatives led by city and provincial intelligence units in Mabiga village.

It identified the arrested persons as Paula Bianca Julian and a 17-year-old suspect, both residents of this city, and John Jacob Simbulan, a resident of Capas, Tarlac.

The regional police said Mr. Park, a resident of Timog Park Subdivision in nearby Angeles City, had agreed to meet someone who was selling him a vehicle before he was abducted.

Around 10 p.m. on Oct. 24, Park and his brother went to a place along Camachiles Road in Camachiles village here to meet the supposed seller.

But upon arrival at the meeting place, they were confronted by three armed men who forcibly took the victim inside a black Kia Carnival minivan with conduction sticker AP 338A.

After reporting the incident to the police, the brother received via Telegram messaging application a photo showing the victim tied up and blindfolded.

The police said the kidnappers were demanding “a huge amount of money for ransom.”

It said a hot pursuit operation led to the arrest of three individuals and the rescue of the victim.

The PRO3 said three other people suspected to be involved in the Korean national’s kidnapping remained at-large. It identified them as Tweenie Salas, a resident of Angeles City who is the alleged mastermind, and John Lex Ubane and Herson Barroga, both residents of this city.

“Further investigation revealed that the same suspects were also involved in a series of other crimes, including robbery, car theft, and kidnapping of two additional Korean nationals identified as Mr. Nam and Ms. Moon,” the regional police disclosed.

It said the suspects allegedly took some P800,000 from the two Koreans before abandoning them in an inn in Capas, Tarlac. It did not say when this incident happened.

PRO3 director Brigadier General Redrico Maranan urged the public to remain vigilant against criminals and to report any crime and suspicious incidents to the police through hotline numbers.

“This operation demonstrates our resolve to dismantle criminal networks that threaten the peace and security of our communities. The vigilance of the reporting party and the prompt action of our operatives were instrumental in securing the victim’s safe recovery. With the arrest of members, identification of leaders, and subsequent filing of criminal complaints against them, crimes against Korean nationals will be lessened,” he added. INQ