BuCor sacks prison guard in kidnap-slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections has dismissed from service a prison guard for his alleged involvement in the killing of a businesswoman and her son in Quezon City last month, BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. said on Friday.

Corrections Officer 1 Pio Jonathan Eulalio and a former convict, Raymond David Reyes, were presented by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday as suspects in the kidnapping and murder of Gloria Ortega, 70, and her son Christian Ortega, 40, on June 10.

“I have suspended Eulalio… and eventually dismissed him from the service as there is no place for misfits in the bureau,” Catapang said in a statement.

“That is one of the reasons why I am here: to cleanse the bureau of scalawags,” he added.

Catapang noted that the bureau has been in close coordination with the NBI and provided the agency with information that led to Eulalio’s arrest.

He said Eulalio, who was assigned to the escorting unit of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, had been on leave since the crime until he was arrested in General Trias, Cavite on July 12.

Reyes, who was arrested on July 11, was released in April after serving the maximum sentence for the crime of homicide.

Catapang said 23 BuCor personnel were dismissed, 53 were suspended, 21 were reprimanded and 179 were formally charged for various offenses since 2022.

The NBI’s homicide division alleged that Reyes and Eulalio shot and killed Christian then kidnapped his mother.

Gloria’s body was found in a ravine beside a dump in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Bay, Laguna.

The two suspects identified an employee of the victims, Vergel Olanda, as their alleged conspirator, the NBI said.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said Olanda, whom Reyes and Eulalio met at the Quezon City Jail, proposed the crime.

According to the NBI, the victims were in a white van along L.R. Pascual street in Barangay Baesa in the wee hours of June 10 when the suspects, in a sport utility vehicle, blocked their path in front of the Lucas R. Pascual Memorial Elementary School.

Christian tried to maneuver in an effort to escape, but the suspects shot at him. He died at the scene.

The suspects snatched Gloria and took the P100,000 she had with her and traveled around Pampanga, Tagaytay and Laguna.

On the afternoon of June 10, the suspects demanded P5 million in ransom from the Ortega family but later killed Gloria, the NBI reported.