Fil-Am boy rescued; 5 kidnappers rounded up

MANILA, Philippines—Police rescued a 4-year-old Filipino-American boy from kidnappers, who snatched him from his mother while on their way to school, after holding him for ransom for eight days, authorities said on Friday.

Five kidnappers were arrested in a series of operations by elements of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (Pacer), other local police units and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Pacer chief Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez said.

The victim, whose name is being withheld to protect his family’s privacy, has been reunited with his parents, a Filipino mother and an American father.

On Dec. 6., the boy and his mother were on their way to school in Parañaque City when the kidnappers grabbed the boy and forced him into a car, Nerez said.

After the incident, the boy’s family then received a call demanding ransom.

“The kidnappers initially asked for a P10-million ransom in exchange for the boy’s release,” Nerez said. After negotiations, the ransom was eventually lowered to P5 million and finally to P600,000, he said.

On the evening of Dec. 9, a payoff took place in Parañaque City, but the victim was not released. The kidnappers asked for an additional ransom of P5 million, Nerez said.

After gathering information, Pacer tracked down the kidnappers and discovered their hideout in Barangay San Ramon in Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, Nerez said.

A rescue team composed of Pacer, Special Action Forces, FBI, Region 5 police and Sorsogon police raided the kidnappers’ lair and rescued the boy, who was unharmed and healthy.

Arrested were Lorenzo Dipad, Michael Yolol and Floridel Yolol, all of legal age and residents of the town, Nerez said.

The following day, follow-up operations in Parañaque and Muntinlupa cities resulted in the arrest of two more kidnappers: Jaymark Lopena and his cousin, Ramil Lopena, Nerez said.