A KIDNAP for ransom and robbery group allegedly responsible for the abduction of a bank executive last week has been busted with the arrest of its 10 members, including its leader, in a series of operations in Metro Manila, and Nueva Ecija.

The suspects, members of the Amolo Group that the police consider as “a new player” in kidnapping, were captured in successive operations by members of the Pasay City police, Manila Police Department, Nueva Ecija police and the Police Anticrime and Emergency Response (Pacer) task force last week, just days after snatching their latest victim.

The Pacer chief, Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, identified the suspects as Melchor Herrera, 26; Niño Carangan, 22; Crizaldo de Guzman; Alven Lacandazo; Armando Aquinio, 40; Reggie Reyes, 26; Florentino Amolo; Edgardo Hernandez, 42; Jocelyn Ferolino, 26; and Reynante Alcazar, the alleged ransom taker.

Espina said de Guzman, of San Ildefonso, Bulacan, died of heart attack upon his arrest.

The suspects were presented on Monday to National Police chief Director Gen. Avelino Razon Jr., who ordered the National Police Intelligence Group to assist in the follow-up operations to arrest the two remaining members of the group.

Razon also ordered Espina to develop a tight case against the kidnapping suspects who are being held in Camp Crame, Quezon City, following the filing of charges against them.

“Although kidnapping for ransom is at an all-time low because the more notorious syndicates have already been neutralized, we should not allow new players to venture into this kind of criminal activity,” Razon added.

Espina said the Amolo Group abducted Ramon Murillo, 62, vice president of the Philippine National Bank, in the wee hours of June 3 in Quezon City. The group demanded a ransom of P15 million for his safe release.

Murillo was released on June 6 after the kidnappers accepted the P1 million ransom paid by the victim’s family.

Espina said the suspects were also behind the kidnapping and murder of Korean businessman Chan Kil An in Cavite, early this month.

“We have known the Amolo Group to be involved in the Chan and Murillo kidnapping cases, but we are still looking deeper into the other activities of this group,” Espina said.

Pacer agents recovered from Alcazar in Cabanatuan City some P850,000 in cash, which is believed to be part of the ransom payment.

Also recovered from the suspects were four handguns, an Ingram submachine gun, a Toyota Altis with license plate ZHB-843, a Mitsubishi Lancer with license plate PFP-879 and cellular telephones.

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THE Supreme Court (SC) has denied the petition filed by major taxi operators seeking to stop the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from implementing several memorandum circulars imposing standards and regulations for taxi and mega taxi units, including the issuance of taxi meter receipts.

A KIDNAP for ransom and robbery group allegedly responsible for the abduction of a bank executive last week has been busted with the arrest of its 10 members, including its leader, in a series of operations in Metro Manila, and Nueva Ecija.

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