CITY OF MALOLOS—A couple who are prominent eye, ear, nose and throat (EENT) specialists in this city was kidnapped on Sunday afternoon and rescued by policemen about seven hours later.
       Police officials here identified the victims as Gervacio Santos and his wife Silvia Fe, both physicians and owners of an EENT clinic in this city.
       Police said the couple was kidnapped around 4 p.m. on Sunday in Malolos.
       The victims were rescued by policemen seven hours later in Pampanga province.
       Police said the kidnappers demanded P20 million for the safe release of the Santos couples.
       A joint team from of the Police Anticrime Emergency Response, Central Luzon police and Bulacan police were able to locate the safe house of the kidnappers in barangay San Miguel, Magalang, Pampanga late Sunday night.
       Police officials said an unidentified alleged kidnapper was killed in a brief shootout with the police during the rescue operation, while another suspect was captured in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
       Intelligence agents of the Bulacan police were able to trace one of the suspects’ vehicles, a black Mitsubishi Lancer with license plate number XTY 684, that was left parked late Sunday afternoon in front of a fast-food restaurant in barangay Santa Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan.
       As the driver of the vehicle returned to get his car around 3 a.m. on Monday, police operatives immediately arrested him.
       The sources identified the suspect as Fermin Limcuando, who did not resist arrest and allegedly admitted his participation in the couple’s kidnapping.
       Police are also verifying if the arrested suspect is really a relative of the victims. Kidnapping charges are being prepared against Limcuando on Tuesday afternoon.