A pharmaceutical firm chief executive officer who reportedly went missing in July has been abducted and killed by a group of at least 11 men, the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group said.
PNP-AKG Luzon Field Unit Chief Col. Frederick Obar identified the victim as Eduardo G. Tolosa Jr., president and chief executive officer of Iraseth Pharma Inc.
The case of Tolosa—whose identity the PNP withheld then—was first reported in the media last month after a photo of his burnt Toyota Land Cruiser surfaced on social media.
Obar filed a complaint before the Department of Justice yesterday against 11 persons for murder, kidnapping for ransom, and arson charges in connection with Tolosa’s death.
The respondents were identified as Carlo G. Cadampog, Ceasar G. Cadampog, David Z. Gundran, John Benedict V. Dumalanta, Melvin Leonor Andes, Melchor P. Andes, Victor Ragodon Ferrer, Adrian Joseph Mendez, Richmeld Ignilan, a certain “Tomtom,” and a still unidentified male person.
The PNP-AKG conducted an investigation based on the report of the victim’s nephew, Carl Allan Tolosa, who reported that his uncle went missing last July 19.
A police investigation found the victim left his home in Marikina City aboard his white Toyota Land Cruiser at around 11:08 am on July 19 and, later that day called Iraseth Pharma Vice President for Finance Delia Taboniag to get from his vault US$102,700; 2,800 euros; 186 Singaporean dollars; a Rolex watch, and a Hublot watch.
The money and the watches were brought by his driver, Christopher Rancho, to the victim in South of Market Tower in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City that same day.
“However, after Mr. Eduardo Tolosa received his personal belongings, his cell phone could no longer be contacted nor messages be made for his whereabouts,” Obar said in the complaint.
Obar said that Taboniag disclosed that last Aug. 26, she received a text message “asking 100 million pesos and if they cannot accede, threatened to send the head of Mr. Eduardo Tolosa.”
He said that Taboniag continued to receive text messages about the ransom demand until Sept. 1.
Last month, Obar said Dumalanta, Gundran and Andes surrendered to the PNP-AKG and expressed willingness to divulge information on their participation as well as those of others in the crime.
“Their respective sworn statements revealed the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping for ransom and killing of victim Eduardo Tolosa, the names of their cohorts, the mastermind, and the place where they dumped and burned the body,” he said.
Obar added Tolosa’s burnt Land Cruiser was found in San Luis, Pampanga.
The complaint also stated that during the investigation, law enforcers found closed circuit television (CCTV) footage which showed that the vehicle was being driven by an unidentified male and followed by a Mitsubishi Mirage in Paranaque City on July 19.
It said the CCTV showed that the occupant of the Mitsubishi Mirage applied for RFID (radio-frequency identification) for the tollgates and was found to have used a mobile phone number under the name of Ceasar Cadampog.