Kidnapped trader withP5M ransom rescued

By George Trillo

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- Police rescued a wealthy Pakistani businessman and a companion who were kidnapped in Bataan last Jan. 9 by six armed men who demanded P5-million ransom.

Four of the suspected kidnappers were arrested.

Chief Supt. Leon Nilo dela Cruz, director of the Central Luzon police office, said he had ordered a region-wide hunt for the other suspects in the kidnapping of Yasser Infan, 28, Pakistani businessman, and his companion Ramon Becares.

They were abducted on Gov. Linao Highway in Bagac, Bataan at about 9 a.m. last Jan. 9.

The armed kidnappers were on board an Asian utility vehicle without plate number.

The information on the kidnapping was first relayed to the Bataan Provincial Police Office by Supt. Limpi Cayda of the Zambales Provincial Police Office who learned of the kidnapping from Mohamed Mumir Tahir, father of Yesser.

Cayda told Bataan police the kidnappers were demanding a P5-million ransom.

The Bataan police immediately coordinated with the Police Anti-Crime Response office in Camp Crame , Quezon City .

Bataan police director Senior Supt. Manuel Gaerlan designated Chief Insp. Cesar Lumiwes to establish contacts with the families of the kidnapped victims and asked them to cooperate in the efforts to negotiate with the kidnappers.

At about 10 a.m. on Jan 10, Cayda and Lumiwes went to Camp Crame where they assisted PACER in the ransom negotiation.

An hour later, PACER started the negotiations on the ransom payment, using the cell phone of the kidnapped Pakistani.

The kidnappers initially asked for a P5-million ransom, but they later agreed to reduce it to R3 million. After a few hours of cell phone negotiations, the kidnappers agreed on a R400,000 ransom

A technical surveillance by PACER agents on the location of the cell phone of the Pakistani was traced to a PLDT lot on Bueco St., Tugatog, Orani, Bataan .

Police immediately raided the place and arrested four of the suspected kidnappers.

Arrested were Sesenando Martin, Gallardo Martinez, Nestor Juliano, Leonardo Alincastre, and Ramil Calma.

It turned out the raided place was the hideout of the kidnappers.