PNP: 4 kidnap suspects killed, victim rescued in Parañaque
Four suspects in the kidnapping of a businessman were killed after a rescue operation by the police ended in a shootout in Parañaque City on Wednesday night, the Philippine National Police said.
The rescued victim, a 78-year-old Indian who later acquired a Filipino citizenship, was abducted on Tuesday, according to the PNP’s Anti-Kidnapping Group.
The PNP, however, initially reported the suspects to be merely wounded in a statement on Wednesday night or shortly after the operation.
In a briefing on Thursday morning, Brig. Gen. Glicerio Cansilao, director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), said that “right after the confrontation that happened, we immediately brought them to the hospital. They were dead on arrival.”
Authorities identified the slain suspects as Rhian Martinez de Guzman; Robert Allan Raz; Argel Valenzuela Nabor, 39; and Robin Escandor Reyes, 24.
De Guzman was found carrying an identification card purportedly from the National Bureau of Investigation.
P10-M ransom
The PNP said Nabor and Reyes were former members of the National Capital Region Police Office; they had gone Awol and were eventually dismissed in 2025.
Nabor also reportedly had an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in February for malversation of public funds or property.
At least three more suspects remained at large, the police said.
Cansilao said the AKG officer wounded in the shootout was now in stable condition.
The victim, who had his business office in Parañaque, was abducted by the suspects on his way home to Makati.
Cansilao said the kidnappers contacted the victim’s wife and daughter-in-law at least three times on Tuesday night and demanded a P50-million ransom.
The victim’s family managed to negotiate and bring the ransom down to P10 million. The payoff was set up near a shopping mall along Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque on Wednesday night.
Police said it was the daughter-in-law who handed the P10-million ransom to the suspects.
Recovered items
“The payoff operation was finished. We rescued the victim. During the course of the rescue, the suspects found out that there were police officers there. That’s when the armed confrontation broke out,” Cansilao said.
The four suspects, then onboard a Toyota Fortuner, opened fire at the operatives, prompting the latter to shoot back, the AKG chief said.
Early Thursday morning, a Mitsubishi Xpander believed to have been used by three more suspects—those who remained at large—was recovered in Malate, Manila.
Several PNP uniforms, one bearing the name “Fabros,” a pistol, two magazines, a hand grenade, and two vehicle plates (NIG 9492 and NJF 8105) were also found in the two vehicles.
