BJMP honors officers for thwarting kidnap attempt

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has recognized four personnel who successfully thwarted an attempt by six suspects to abduct an alleged Chinese criminal syndicate leader in Parañaque City.

BJMP Chief, Jail Director Ruel Rivera, awarded the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting and Medalya ng Kagalingan to the four jail officers last week. The officers prevented armed men from snatching Hu Yang, a suspect involved in a criminal syndicate, inside a BJMP vehicle as it was traversing a service road along the Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) on April 7, according to a news release recently.

The incident occurred while Hu was being transported back to his detention facility after attending a hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court.

The suspects fired upon the BJMP transport vehicle, prompting the jail personnel to return fire, forcing the armed men to retreat.

“Ang kanilang mabilis at mahusay na tugon ay sumasalamin ng kanilang katapangan, propesyonalismo, at tunay na serbisyo-publiko,” Rivera said.

One of the fleeing vehicles collided with a tree, and the suspects fled on foot toward the mangrove forest at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, where six of them were arrested with the assistance of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) forces.

The arrested suspects include Filipinos James Bales Lasam, 28; Jerom Pascua Salvador, 31; Jerry Calino Escalde, 30; and John Paul Chua, 51; along with Chinese nationals Yang Yang Shin and Wang Hongjie.

Recovered from the suspects were a replica grenade, several US dollar bills, a .357 Magnum revolver with live ammunition, a fired cartridge case, and suspected illegal drugs and paraphernalia.

Jail Officer 2 Leif Joseph Talanquines sustained a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and was taken to the Ospital ng Parañaque. The other BJMP officers involved were unharmed and are receiving support from authorities.

NCRPO Director, Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, commended the Parañaque police and SWAT teams for their efforts in foiling the kidnapping attempt.

Aberin noted that Hu is an alleged leader of a criminal syndicate involved in various illegal activities such as kidnapping, car theft, extortion, and gun-running, and was arrested last year in Parañaque. He is also reportedly wanted in China for kidnapping charges.