Guns, ammo, and drugs recovered from the slain suspects. Photo by Johnny R. Reblando
IBA, Zambales — Two suspected members of a notorious kidnap for ransom gang were killed in a firefight with police authorities in Botolan town Wednesday night.
A report to Zambales police director Col. Romano Velayo Cardiño said that joint elements of the Botolan PNP led by Major Bryan Christopher L. Baybauan, Zambales police drug enforcement group and the PNP Anti–Kidnapping Group Luzon Field Unit were serving multiple warrants of arrest for Criminal Case No. 2677 for Kidnapping for Ransom, CC No. 2681 for Carnapping (Sec 3 of RA 10883), and CC No. 2676 for Kidnapping for Ransom against Michael Corpuz resulted in a gunfight between the law enforcers and the suspect along with a cohort.
Corpuz and his companion who was still unidentifiedat presstime were killed.
Recovered from the fatalities were assorted firearms and ammo that included an M16 Bushmaster with no serial number and 16 live ammunition; a .45 pistol with serial number 10970830 with five live ammunition; a .38 pistol with serial number 447-1 with four live ammunition; another .38 pistol with no serial number and with five live ammunition; four fired cartridge cases of 9mm; one fired cartridge case of .45; and three fired cartridge cases of 5.56mm
Also recovered were two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance and drug paraphernalia.
Cardiño assured the public that the Zambales police will continue its mandated tasks in the intensified enforcement of the law and that “this province will be no safe haven for lawless elements as they will be arrested in line with the guidelines of PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas and Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Valeriano T. De Leon to account all fugitives and put them behind the bars of justice.”
