Manila - Seven suspected kidnappers were killed in a police operation that rescued a kidnapping victim just outside the Philippine capital, a regional police chief said Saturday. Captive Jefferson Cheng, 29, a Filipino-Chinese businessman, was unharmed in the rescue operation late Friday in Cabuyao town in Laguna province, 40 kilometres south of Manila, Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said.
Palad said three kidnappers were killed during a gunfight at the suspects' hideout in Cabuyao.
Four more suspects, who escaped from the hideout, were killed before dawn Saturday along a highway in Bacoor town in nearby Cavite province, 20 kilometres south of Manila, the police chief said.
Palad said the suspects fired at police officers manning a checkpoint in the area, triggering a firefight.
Cheng was seized along a highway early Friday from his van carrying tobacco products in Bacoor. The kidnappers brought Cheng to their hideout in Cabuyao.
Cheng's relatives sought the help of police after the kidnappers demanded 20 million pesos (416,666 dollars) in ransom, Palad said.
Police operatives were able to trace a telephone call from the kidnappers, resulting in the raid on their hideout.
