Good job for PNP-LSS and PNP-AKG
I was attending the 64th founding anniversary of the PNP Logistics Support Service late Tuesday morning at Camp Crame when I received the word that PNP Anti-Kidnapping agents have gunned down two armed kidnappers during a gunfight in Pililia, Rizal early in the day.
The sad news however is that a PNP-AKG agent named Patrolman Joshua Lingayo was shot by one of the slain kidnappers in the abdomen and is still undergoing treatment in a Pasig City hospital. My earnest prayers for the immediate recovery of this brave anti-kidnapping cop.
My friend, PNP-AKG director, Brigadier General Rod Dimas said that they conducted the follow-up operation which ended up in a gunbattle in Pililla shortly after the kidnappers released their two hostages in Laguna early in the day.
I learned that the slain suspects were identified as among the four armed men who abducted a businessman and a student somewhere in Rizal province last June 3 and demanded a whopping P100 million ransom for their safe release.
A PNP-AKG investigation showed that the kidnappers who were on board a motorcycle and a white Honda CRV with plate no. XJC 170 snatched the victims, brought them to their safehouse and later called up their family to make the huge ransom demand.
The kidnappers demanded a P100 million ransom from their captives’ family although they were uncapable of paying such a huge amount of money. The gunmen must have thought that the victims were so filthy rich that they can easily afford the huge ransom demand.
However, following a series of negotiations, the kidnappers accepted the family’s counter-offer and demanded that the ransom be delivered somewhere in Turbina, Laguna. However, they later changed their minds and asked that the ransom be delivered in Pakil, Laguna.
I was told that PNP-AKG operatives monitored the kidnappers as they ordered the release of their hostages at the iMall in Famy municipality around 1:54 Tuesday morning. Brig. Gen. Dimas gave the go-signal to launch the pursuit operation after the motorcycle-riding kidnappers grabbed the bag containing the ransom and disappeared.
During the operation in Pililla, Pat. Lingayo was shot by one of the suspects. Eventually, the two armed men were killed in an ensuing firefight. I hope and pray that the PNP-AKG would be able to immediately arrest the rest of the suspects and recover their loot. A thorough investigation into their other activities and connections is also in the offing. Knowing Brig. Gen. Dimas, i know he won’t let these kidnappers get off the hook easily.
On a personal note, I would like to congratulate the PNP-LSS headed by my friend, Brig. Gen. Lorenzo ‘Goyo’ Detran Jr. (he and his elder brother, retired Police Major General Boyet Detran are both fine PNP Academy products) for a job really well done amid the pandemic. Indeed, the PNP-LSS has performed well in providing maximum logistical support and other services to all PNP offices/units nationwide in relation to their regular functions.
As PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant Gen. Vic Danao had said, the PNP-LSS has done a remarkable job despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic while going all-out in implementing the plans and programs of the PNP leadership including their intensified cleansing program.
Another good friend, PNP Director for Logistics, Major Gen. Ronnie Olay also said that despite all the challenges, the PNP-LSS helped them ‘frame-worked strategic steps properly which kept PNP financial and logistical resources balanced thru their ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.’
Thus, I would like to congratulate the PNP-LSS awardees led by Colonel Jennifer Belmonte, Lieutenant Col. Bjorn John Labos, Police Executive Master Sergeant Christine Gabriel, Patrolman Melanie Martinez and Non-Uniformed Personnel Norbert C. Velasco and Priscilla B. Labis. May your tribe increase.
Apart from conducting procurement, storage, inventory, distribution and disposal of PNP supplies and equipment, the PNP-LSS is also tasked to undertake maintenance of PNP vehicles, armaments and other equipment and most importantly, provide transportation services in support to operational as well as administrative activities of the 225,000-strong police force.
They are also the ones providing free transportation to the public during transport strikes and other emergency situations. At the same time, they also responsible in disposing police equipment including guns which are deemed beyond economical repair, in many cases turning ‘unserviceable ones to serviceable ones.’
PNP-LSS personnel are the ones constantly being seen driving police trucks and other heavy equipment needed to transport personnel and goods during ‘search, rescue, relief and retrieval operations’ in parts of the country hit by disasters such as massive flood, earthquake and landslides. They were also a vital part of the force that retook Marawi City from ISIS-inspired terrorists in 2017.
Lt. Gen. Danao was represented by PNP The Chief Directorial Staff, my Batangueño friend, Lt. Gen. Manny Abu during the PNP-LSS anniversary rites. Lt. Gen. Abu also joined our lunch and shared many jokes that really brought the house down.
After the PNP-LSS event, Maj. Gen. Olay and I had coffee in his office. Olay, a member of PMA ‘Bigkis Lahi’ Class of 1990 has been a good friend since the early 90s, particularly when he was still assigned at the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Task Force.
On Monday, I joined Lt. Gen. Danao and other top officials in having lunch at the office of the Director for Logistics, courtesy of Maj. Gen. Olay who marked his 55th birthday on Monday. Yes, the soft-spoken former PNP spokesperson will be bowing out from the force next year.
Before we parted ways, we went to the office of the director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to greet our friend, Maj. Gen. Ely Cruz a happy birthday too. My Pareng Ely also marked his 55th birthday on Tuesday. God bless these two fine officers and gentlemen always.
