MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to issue a hold departure order or HDO against the alleged mastermind in the kidnapping and murder of a chief executive officer of a pharmaceutical company in Taguig City.
Saying lawmen will eventually catch up with them, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo urged Carlo Cadampog, his brother Ceasar, Adrian Joseph Mendez, Richmeld Ignilan and another suspect identified only as “Tomtom” to surrender.
The police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) tagged Cadampog as the alleged brains in the murder of Eduardo Tolosa Jr., president and CEO of Iraseth Pharma Inc., who went missing in Bonifacio Global City on July 19.
Fajardo said the PNP asked the BI to issue a lookout bulletin order against the suspects to prevent them from leaving the country.
The victim’s family is also seeking an HDO against Cadampog.
Harry Roque, lawyer for the family of Tolosa, said they were expecting the preliminary investigation into the case to merit the issuance of an HDO against the prime suspect.
“When I spoke to him, he said he would surrender to the provincial police of Dinagat. But when authorities arrived, he wasn’t there and could not be contacted anymore,” Roque told reporters.
He said they would ask the Department of Justice to place the witnesses against Cadampog under the witness protection program.
Fajardo said they are verifying reports that Cadampog fled to Mindanao after sensing police were on his tail.
Based on their coordination with the BI, Fajardo said Cadampog and his cohorts have not left the Philippines.
Five other suspects, including a 13-year-old boy, have surrendered to police and executed sworn statements implicating Cadampog in Tolosa’s murder.
Probers said another suspect, an unidentified man, remains missing.
Once a court issues a warrant for the suspects’ arrest, Fajardo said the PNP would mobilize its resources to ensure that Cadampog and his cohorts would be arrested.
The AKG said Cadampog’s group allegedly demanded P100 million in ransom from Tolosa’s family in exchange for his release.
However, Fajardo said Tolosa was already dead on the night he was kidnapped and his remains were burned for three days to hide the crime.
Investigation showed that Cadampog had planned Tolosa’s murder as early as May, based on the statements of the suspects in police custody.
Tolosa was reportedly carrying P5.7 million in cash, $102,700, 2,800 Euros, 186 Singapore dollars and two expensive watches when he went missing. – Neil Jayson Servallos