Atty. Harry Roque and Alpha Serranilla show photo of the alleged mastermind in the abduction and killing of her brother pharma executive Eduardo Tolosa Jr. | PHOTO: Tetch Torres /INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Five out of the eleven suspects – including a 13-year-old – linked to the abduction and death of pharmaceutical executive Eduardo Tolosa Jr. have surrendered to authorities, said the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo on Wednesday said the suspects have also admitted to their crime, which according to her, helps the police mount evidence for the complaints filed against them.
READ: PNP files raps vs 11 involved in abduction, murder of pharma exec
“May lima po tayong suspek na sumuko po, voluntary surrender. At base po roon sa kanilang sinumpaang salaysay, ipinahayag po nila iyong kanilang naging partisipasyon dito nga po sa insidente involving rito sa pharmaceutical chief executive officer (CEO),” she told reporters in a briefing.
(Five suspects have surrendered, and in their sworn statements, they shared how they were involved in the pharmaceutical CEO incident.)
Fajardo admitted that the PNP initially ruled out a kidnapping in the case because the victim’s kin had not received a ransom demand at that time.
“Subalit noong August 26 po, nakatanggap ng text message iyong isang opisyal ng kanilang kumpanya na nagde-demand ng P100-million at naulit po ito noong September 1 na naka-receive po sila ng another text message, asking for a sum of money para nga po ilutang nila itong ating missing person,” she further narrated.
(Last August 26, an official from Tolosa’s company received a text message demanding P100 million. And another text message, seeking a sum of money for Tolosa’s return, was received last September 1.)
But according to the suspects, Tolosa was already killed on the evening of July 19.
Retracing the crime
Fajardo said the suspects have since recounted the crime in their sworn statements, starting from the primary suspects offering them jobs until they were told to eliminate traces of the crime by burning Tolosa’s corpse for three straight days.
“Kinuwento nila mula umpisa hanggang dulo. Sila ang inutusan maghukay at binigyan sila ng pera. Inutusan silang linisin iyong crime scene at nakita nila mismo iyong sasakyan na puti ng biktima na dinala doon sa lugar kung saan siya pinatay, at maging iyong bato na allegedly pinampukpok doon sa biktima ay itinuro ng ating mga suspek,” she added.
(They narrated the crime from start to end. They were instructed to dig Tolosa’s grave and then, they were given money. They were told to clean up the crime scene, and they saw where the victim’s white car was brought to where he was killed. They even showed us the rock that was allegedly used to hit the victim.)
Aside from this, Fajardo noted that the police was also able to trace the RFID of one of the suspects, who had been driving the sport utility vehicle (SUV) where Tolosa was last seen onboard.
“Nag-apply kasi ng RFID itong driver noong SUV at nang ating i-vinerify, nag-register ito sa cellphone number nang kapatid ng isa sa primary suspects natin,” she added.
(The driver of the SUV applied for an RFID and after we verified this, we found out that it was registered to the cellphone number of a primary suspect’s sibling.)
Fajardo said the PNP has applied for a cyber warrant to ensure that such evidence is admissible before the court.
She then bared that since the police could only recover small bone fragments from what is believed to be Tolosa’s burnt corpse, it could no longer be viable for DNA extraction.
Tolosa’s family called on Carlo Cadampog, one of the persons of interest in the case, to surface and prove his innocence.
Carlo, his brother Cesar, and nine other suspects are facing complaints of murder, kidnapping for ransom, and arson before the Department of Justice.
Last July 19, Tolosa called an official from his pharmaceutical company with instructions to get from his vault US $102,700, 2,800 euros, 186 Singapore dollars, a Rolex watch, and a Hublot watch – all of which were delivered to him by his driver.
But after receiving the items, Tolosa could no longer be contacted.
The SUV and the remains believed to be that of Tolosa were later discovered in Pampanga.