CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Several members of a kidnap-for-ransom criminal group victimizing Koreans nationals that is also reportedly involved in robbery and carnapping were recently arrested by operatives of the Pampanga Police Barangay Mabiga, Mabalacat.
Reports reaching Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, regional police director of Central Luzon, identified the arrested kidnappers as Paula Bianca Julian, Renan Coronel and John Jacob Simbulan.
Based on the report, the victim, 57-year-old ‘Mr. Park”, a resident of Timog Park in Angeles City, was reportedly abducted during a planned car transaction with the suspects on October 24 around 10 p.m. in Barangay Mabiga,
The kidnappers forcibly took the Korean national into a black Kia Carnival with conduction number AP 338A and later sent his brother a photograph of the victim tied up and demanded a huge amount of money for ransom money for his release.
A hot pursuit operation on October 25 led by the Intelligence Unit of Mabalacat City Police Station along with personnel from the Pampanga Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) resulted in the arrest of the following suspects idenified as Paula Bianca Julian, Renan Coronel, both residents of Mabalacat City, Pampanga and, John Jacob Simbulan, resident of Capas, Tarlac.
During the investigation, the suspects revealed the identities of three other individuals allegedly involved and still at large namel: Tweenie Salas, resident of Angeles City, Pampanga (alleged mastermind), John Lex Ubane, and Herson Barroga, both residents of Mabalacat City.
Further investigation revealed that the same suspects were also involved in a series of other crimes, including robbery, carnapping, and kidnapping of two additional Korean nationals identified as Mr. Nam and Ms. Moon.
In this incident, the suspects reportedly seized approximately P800,000 in cash from the victims before abandoning them at an inn in Capas, Tarlac.
Col. Jay Dimaandal, Pampanga police director, said the victim was rescued in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija the following day after a hot-pursuit operations that led to the arrest of Julian, Coronel and Simbulan. (UnliNews Online)
