Police on Friday announced the arrest of a former Cavite vice-mayor and a policeman in active service for their alleged involvement in a kidnap-slay case.
Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police-Deputy Director for Administration, identified the suspects as Victor Carungcong, a former vice-mayor of Dasmariñas town, and Chief Inspector Exequiel Cautiver, training director of the Special Action Force School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The suspects' cohorts were also arrested. They were identified as Alejandrito Enntolizo, a village watchman in Bangkal, Makati City and pedicab driver Gary Pateo.
A radio dzMM report said the suspects were arrested in separate locations in Pasay City and their hideout in Barangay Bayan Luma, Imus town in Cavite.
Verzosa said the suspects were involved in the abduction and murder of Demosthenes Cañete, a retired pilot, and his driver Allan Garay.
The police official said the suspects snatched the victims on June 27 while on their way to Barangay Sabang in Dasmariñas. He said Cañete is a brother-in-law of Carungcong who owns an emission testing center in the province.
The victims were brought and executed in Porac, Pampanga, Verzosa added. Their bodies were found on July 2.
Verzosa said Carungcong ordered the victim kidnapped since he wanted to take over Cañete's business.
The police official said the kidnappers asked P20 million in ransom from the victims' families even as after murdering the two.
After negotiations, the family agreed to hand over P900,000 to the kidnappers. The exchange was set July 4 in Barangay Malibay in Pasay, where Entolizo and Pateo were nabbed.
Cautiver and the former vice-mayor, meanwhile, were arrested in Cavite.
In a related development, police raided two houses of a fifth gang member in Imus town. The suspect was identified as Mariano de Leon Jr. alias "Spider."
De Leon was able to elude the arresting team. Police said de Leon's homes yielded at least 70 assorted firearms.
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