5 men kidnap 4, slip from cops in running gunbattle

PLARIDEL, Bulacan– At least five suspected kidnappers slipped from police dragnet, took at least five vehicles during a running gunbattle that criss-crossed Bulacan Thursday morning.

Supt. Edwin Quilates, this town’s police chief said the five unidentified suspects have been tracked by police anti-kidnapping group and traffic management group from Cavite to Nueva Ecija, then to Bulacan since Wednesday August 19.

The suspects allegedly kidnapped four persons in Cavite that included an unidentified couple, their child and housemaid on Wednesday August 19, then drove to Nueva Ecija.

On August 20, the suspects, on board an Isuzu Trooper (RAV 117) was monitored by police in Bustos town.

The suspects then commandeered a Nissan Urvan (WDS 174,) leaving the Isuzu Trooper behind.
A brief gunbattle ensued and the suspects fled toward Plaridel town, but along the way took nine-year-old Mark Anthony de Lara as hostage.

Police said one of the suspects was wounded and the tire of the Nissan Urvan was hit during the exchange of gunfires.

At Barangay Culianin here, Quilates said the suspects stopped by a Mitsubishi Adventure (RDY 145) in an attempt to change vehicle as the Nissan Urvan they commandeered at Bustos town was running on flat tire.

The Mitsubishi Adventure had no driver and the suspects fired at its window on the driver’s side leaving it broken.

They then flagged down a Honda City (YDD-529), and left hostage De Lara as he could no longer fit in the car.

The suspects continued to drive to Barangay Tabang here near the Sta. Rita Toll Plaza of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) where they took a Ford Expedition.

Police said the suspects entered the NLEX and commandeered another Mitsubishi L-300 FB (RGS 326) by the Marilao toll plaza.

From there, police said they no longer know the whereabouts of the suspects.

They said that they could not easily fire at the suspects as they were using hostages as human shield. – With DC