Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Through swift and concerted police action, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) successfully rescued a 59-year-old male business owner who was kidnapped in Cabanatuan City on Monday, January 26, 2026, and arrested all three suspects involved in the crime, all within less than 10 hours from the time of the incident.
Initial investigation revealed that at around 7:52 AM, the victim was forcibly taken at gunpoint by three male suspects upon his arrival at his warehouse in Barangay Kapitan Pepe, Cabanatuan City.
The suspects also took the victim’s red pick-up truck and fled southbound.
Shortly after the kidnapping, the suspects allegedly demanded ₱5 million in exchange for the victim’s release.
While fleeing toward Barangay Bakod Bayan of same city, the suspects were involved in a hit-and-run incident that injured two civilians.
Following the incident, local residents reportedly threw stones at the suspects’ vehicle.
The injured civilians were immediately transported to nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Immediately after the crime was reported, tracker teams and operating units from the Cabanatuan City Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit, 1st Mobile Force Company, PMFC, RSOG 3, and San Miguel Municipal Police Station launched coordinated pursuit and intelligence-driven operations.
The victim was later safely rescued at in Barangay Bakod Bayan, while his stolen vehicle was found in another area of the same barangay.
After their vehicle sustained a flat tire, the suspects abandoned it and fled separately using other vehicles or public transportation.
Using tracking data from the victim’s stolen cellphone, police traced and arrested a 49-year-old AWOL police personnel and resident of Barangay Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City, at Barangay San Juan, San Miguel, Bulacan, at around 5:52 PM the same day.
The suspect, identified as the mastermind of the kidnapping and a cousin of the victim, was intercepted while allegedly attempting to sell the stolen cellphone.
Follow-up operations likewise led to the arrest of the two remaining suspects: a 34-year-old single, unemployed male from Barangay Barrera, Cabanatuan City, and a 27-year-old married, unemployed male from Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, who were apprehended in their respective barangays.
PRO3 Director Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr. commended the involved police units under the overall supervision of PCOL Heryl Daguit, Provincial Director, NEPPO for their speed, coordination, and professionalism, emphasizing the importance of unified action and timely intelligence sharing.
“This successful rescue and the foiling of a ransom demand highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and sustained pursuit. Our personnel acted decisively to ensure the victim’s safety while upholding the rule of law,” Peñones said.
The operation supports the PNP Focused Agenda of Acting Chief, PNP Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., underscoring PRO3’s strong commitment to rapid response, public safety, and the protection of lives and property.
