Cops rescue Pangasinan kidnap victim in Tarlac

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – A combined police team rescued a 19-year-old kidnap victim in Mayantoc, Tarlac on Monday, 18 days after she was seized in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, and arrested four suspects, including a former Army captain.

Senior Supt. Amador Corpus, Tarlac police director, said the victim, Rio Daphne Umandap, 19, was snatched last Sept. 16 by three armed men on board a Kia Besta van without a license plate.

Using an unknown substance, the kidnappers got Umandap dizzy and then dragged her into their getaway vehicle.

Corpus said Umandap was taken to a safehouse in Barangay Care, Tarlac City and after 10 days, was transferred to a hotel and later to another place.

The kidnappers initially demanded P50-million ransom, but after a series of negotiations, opted for P458,000 which was paid in Mabalacat, Pampanga on Oct. 3.

Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response operatives followed the ransom taker to their Tarlac safehouse where Umandap was rescued and the four suspects – ex-Army captain Angelito Turla, Isagani Cuvinar, Rolly de la Cruz and his wife Joseline – were arrested.

Joint police operatives from the Police Anti- Crime Emergency Response, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Tarlac and Pangasinan Police Provincial Office-Special Operations Group participated in Umandap’s rescue from the safehouse in Barangay Manuli, Mayantoc, Tarlac.

In Linagyrn, Pangasinan, Senior Supt. Rosueto Ricaforte, Pangasinan police director, said Umandap was kidnapped by five heavily armed men just as she and her boyfriend stepped out of her house in Villa Tebag in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.

The suspects have been taken to the Philippine National Police Headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City for further investigation, pending the filing of kidnap-for-ransom charges. -- With a report from Dexter A. See