Kidnapping for ransom with murder charges will be filed against 10 persons before the regional trial court (RTC) in Sto. Tomas City in Batangas for the July 19, 2022 abduction and killing of Eduardo G. Tolosa Jr., owner of Iraseth Pharma, Inc.
In a press briefer, the DOJ said those to be charged as principals are Carlo G. Cadampog, Cesar G. Cadampog, Adrian Joseph Mendez, Richmel Riel P. Ignilan, Jomel Q. Vizcarra, and a person who is known as either Aldrin Antonio or Norman Antonio with an alias “Tomtom.”
It said that those to be indicted as accomplices are John Benedict V. Dumalanta and Victor R. Ferrrer. David Z. Gundran Jr. and Melvin L. Andes will be charged as accessories, it also said.
The resolution of the panel of DOJ prosecutors was issued after conducting preliminary investigations on the complaint filed on Sept. 5, 2022 by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) and the family of the victim.
The complaint also named as respondents Melchor P. Andes, a minor.
“After evaluation of the evidence, the Panel of Prosecutors found sufficient evidence to hold respondents, save for Melchor Andes, a minor, for trial,” the DOJ said.
“The indictment of respondents for kidnapping for ransom with murder is not only grounded on the extrajudicial confessions of John Benedict Dumalanta, David Gundran Jr., Melvin Andes, Melchor Andes and Victor Ferrer who are all in unison in pointing to Carlo Cadampog as the mastermind in the killing of Tolosa but also on other relevant evidence such as CCTV (closed circuit television) footages and testimonies of other witnesses who corroborated on the plan of Carlo Cadampog to abduct and exact money from Tolosa,” it said.
It said that Tolosa was abducted on July 19, 2022 and killed the same day in Barangay San Juan, Sto. Tomas City, Batangas where he was buried in a pit dug by John Bendict Dumalanta, Melvin Andes and Victor Ferrer.
It also said the ransom -- including US$102,700; 2,800 Euros, 186 Singaporean dollars, a Rolex watch and a Hublot watch -- were handed to Carlo Cadampog.
The DOJ said Tolosa’s remains were later exhumed and burned by David Gundran Jr. and Melvin upon the instructions of Carlo Cadampog.
“Thereafter, respondents John Benedict Dumalanta, David Gundran Jr., Melvin Andes, Melchor Andes and Victor Ferrer voluntarily surrendered to the PNP-AKG at Camp Crame where they prepared and executed their respective extra-judicial confessions,” it said.
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