THE leader of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) gang operating in Metro Manila, Cebu and Mindanao with a P300,000 prize on his head, dead or alive, was arrested on Wednesday at a beach resort in Bolinao town while on a picnic with members of his family and friends.

The suspect, identified as Jessie Pepino, alias “James Villacorta” was tagged as the leader and negotiator of the Pepino Kidnap-for-Ransom (KFR) Gang based in Metro Manila

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He was arrested by the police in Pangasinan under the supervision of Police Provincial Director, Senior Supt. Alan Purisima after he was traced by elements of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) headed by Superintendent Ronald Lee to have gone to Bolinao.

Operatives of the PACER were armed with warrants of arrest issued by regional trial court Judge Zosimao Escano of Branch 259 in Paranaque City for the crime of kidnapping and by municipal trial court in cities Judge Ester Veloso of Lapu-lapu City for two cases of usurpation of authority.

Pepino was surprised by lawmen while he and members of his family and friends – who were not identified though –were swimming in the waters at the Fatima Beach resort in barangay Arnedo, Bolinao.

The suspect and his group were tagged by the police as those responsible for the kidnapping of 15 persons on separate dates and places in the country, some of whom were released after their relatives paid ransoms.

The kidnap victims included Anita Ching who was kidnapped on October 18, 1998 at Manotoc Subdivision in Quezon City; Edward Tan, kidnapped on June 28, 1997 at Kilton Bldg. in Sucat, Paranaque and released last July 1, 1997 inside the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus; Reagan King who was kidnapped on October 21, 1998 in Mandaue City; Joshua Ferias who was kidnapped January 27, 2006 in Las Pinas City and released on Feb. 6, 2006 in the Sucat Paranaque area.

Enrique Carlos, kidnapped October 9,2005 in San isidro, Sucat, Paranaque and released October 24,2005 in the vicinity of Tropical Hut in BF Homes, Paranaque; Anton Yang, who waskidnapped February 24,2006 in Cebu City and released March 7, 2006; Santos Wang Si who was kidnapped April 12, 2006 in Quezon City and released April 20, 2006 along Balite Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

Several other kidnap victims, including some Japanese and Chinese individuals of various ages, were listed in the police report about Pepino’s arrest. .
Pepino’s co-accused in all these cases are still at large.