Kidnapper of Chinoy trader falls

A kidnapper, tagged as one of the most wanted criminals in the Cordillera region, and carries a P300,000 bounty was arrested over the weekend by the local police in Kalinga province.

Roger Agtulao, alias Ludlud, 31, was the 9th suspect to be arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Chinese businessman a certain Mr. Loy on March 18, 2004 in Benguet. Agtulao was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by a Judge Fernando Cabato of the Benguet Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 62.

Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin said a P300,000 reward was offered by the Department of Interior and Local Government on Aug. 8, 2007 for the arrest of Agtulao, who went into hiding after the kidnapping of Mr. Loy. Martin said the victim was reported missing by his family on March 18, 2004. He was last seen alive at the Tabora Sports arena located at Badiwan, Tuba, Benguet.

The victim’s lifeless body was found by a concerned citizen at Km 38, Halsema Highway, Atok, Benguet on May 17, 2004. Autopsy report showed that the victim died of traumatic injuries in the head.

The Cordillera police invited Jeferson Ab-abor, who admitted participation in the victim’s kidnapping during tactical interrogation.

Ab-abor then led police to his cohorts, identified as Eddie Bagni, Jayson Linglingan, and Cromwel Luke Filog, all natives of Mt. Province. Another suspect, Delfin Palagpag was later arrested by Benguet policemen in La Trinidad town.

Loy’s wife Angelita said that Agtulao and his gang demanded P20 million as ransom for Loy’s freedom but not a single centavo was allegedly paid.

A warrant of arrest for kidnapping was also issued by Cabato in La Trinidad, Benguet in March 2004 for the arrest of the remaining suspects named Banjo Leyaley Sumbad, Salvador Baday, Agtulao, Reymund Dulaycan and Gaston Sarol.  

On May 22, 2004, Sarol was arrested in Barangay Guinsadan, Bauko, Mt Province and also Baday who is serving his sentence at the Baguio City Jail for robbery with intimidation and violation of the Comelec gun ban.   

Dulaycan was arrested in Mt Province while Leyaley surrendered to the NBI in Manila.  – With Myds Supnad