Police arrested a former officer and two others Monday following the brazen kidnapping of a 59-year-old businessman and a high-speed pursuit that spanned two provinces.

The suspects, including a 49-year-old former policeman on AWOL status who is a cousin of the victim, allegedly abducted the businessman at gunpoint at 7:52 a.m. as he arrived at his warehouse in Barangay Kapitan Pepe.

The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office reported the suspects demanded a P5-million ransom.

After seizing the victim’s red Toyota pickup truck, the kidnappers fled south. While driving through Barangay Bakod Bayan, the suspects struck and injured two civilians in a hit-and-run incident. Local residents reportedly pelted the getaway vehicle with stones following the crash. The injured civilians were taken to PJG Hospital for treatment.

The victim was later recovered safely in Barangay Bakod Bayan after the stolen pickup suffered a flat tire, forcing the suspects to abandon the vehicle and flee separately.

Authorities tracked the suspects using data from the victim’s stolen cellphone. Operatives intercepted the former policeman at approximately 5:52 p.m. in San Miguel, Bulacan, as he allegedly attempted to sell the device.