Most wanted kidnapper, cohort slain in Zambales encounter

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 18,2021): Most wanted kidnapper, cohort slain in Zambales encounter (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan) 

Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office

A man, listed as the most wanted kidnapper by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), and his cohort were killed in an encounter with authorities in Zambales on Wednesday.

In a statement Thursday, PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, citing reports coming from AKG director, Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, said Michael Corpuz, a member of the notorious Mokong kidnap-for-ransom group, and a still unidentified cohort, were killed in a firefight in Barangay San Juan in Botolan town at around 11:20 a.m.

Acting on intelligence reports of sighting of the suspect in the area, Sinas said AKG agents launched an operation to serve a warrant of arrest against Corpuz.

Corpuz, however, engaged the arresting officers, prompting them to retaliate.

Recovered from the suspects were an M16 rifle, two handguns, and a still undetermined amount of shabu.

Corpuz is the subject of six arrest warrants issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 69, three of which are for kidnapping, two for child abuse, and one for carnapping.

AKG records also indicate that the Mokong KFR Group led by a certain Ryan Bon Dela Cruz is involved in kidnapping, illegal drugs, robbery hold-up, and carnapping in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

The same group was caught on a viral video posing as agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and kidnapped three persons, including two minors in Taguig City in February 2018.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131074