DAVAO CITY – The grieving family of former Philsaga Mining Corp. president retired Col. Samuel Afdal who was killed two years ago is optimistic that suspects in his tragic death will soon face the consequences of their actions.
THE family of slain mining exec Samuel Afdal is hopeful that justice would soon be served. Afdal family lawyers and case investigator Police Sgt. Ronald Esquibel of the Agusan del Sur police provide an update on his case on Saturday, October 28, in a press conference in Davao City. (Ivy Tejano)
In a statement circulated on social media, the family of the victim said it was heartened by recent developments in their search for justice after the individuals accused of orchestrating the attack on Afdal have been identified and are currently facing charges.
Afdal's widow, Evelyn, submitted a formal complaint before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Agusan del Sur on October 26, Thursday, against a certain “Mark” for being the mastermind behind the attack on her husband in Rosario, Agusan del Sur on October 26, 2021.
Evelyn said in her complaint-affidavit that the man who plotted the assassination of her husband is his former business partner who works for JB Earthmovers Inc. and a resident of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. According to Evelyn, Mark colluded with alias “Okie,” “Dongkoy,” and “Lucas” to kill her husband.
“What kept us in pain is the deceit that attended to his death, which when gleaned from his gentle and generous ways, is unimaginable. But today, two years after Saga’s (Samuel’s nickname) death, we are seeing a glimmer of hope that justice would soon be served,” the Afdal family said.
The Afdal family legal counsel revealed that the gunman, who was earlier arrested and identified as Jeffrey Paw-as Mamerto, alias Lucas, confessed and named the three other culprits, with one of them recognized as the primary instigator.
In a seven-page complaint, Mamerto accused two others of being complicit in the murder. Mark allegedly enticed them to stage the ambush on Afdal in return for a P200,000 financial incentive. He also admitted he accepted the task as a gunman in his judicial affidavit.
The family’s legal counsel added that the reason behind the confession of the gunman two years after the incident is not apparent yet. But rest assured that the gunman is safe in the custody of the government authorities, he said.
“With this new information, we’re hopeful that the cause of justice for Saga will gather drive,” the family said, adding that they are thankful to the Army 75th Infantry Battalion, Rosario Municipal Police, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) efforts in searching for the truth.
According to the briefer shared with the media, the victim was alone in his vehicle when he was attacked. He was driving uphill towards an area where he had a mining prospect. Afdal was wounded but drove his truck from the ambush site to Rosario Manobo Mining Corp. to seek help.
Emergency responders brought Afdal to a hospital where he lay comatose until he passed away on November 15, 2021.
On August 17, 2022, the Afdal family, accompanied by authorities, filed a murder complaint against Mamerto before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, which, on November 22, 2022, found probable cause to indict him and two other “John Does” for the killing.
With the new information on the case, Evelyn filed the complaint-affidavit before the Agusan del Sur Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Mark, whom Mamerto identified as the mastermind in the killing, on October 26, 2023.
According to the Afdal family legal counsel, authorities are looking into business as a possible angle for the crime. The three suspects are at large and will be subpoenaed in the next few days following the complaint filed by the family before the prosecutor’s office.
“We call on everyone to let the wheels of justice roll unimpeded. This is the best tribute we can offer Saga, who helped bring law and order in Agusan del Sur as a fine soldier, and later, as a businessman, helped foster economic progress in its communities,” the Afdal family said.
Afdal, with two decades of military service, assumed the role of president at the Philsaga Mining Corp. During his tenure, he initiated a deal with the Manobo tribe in the province, offering them a royalty payment exceeding the legal requirement.
Eventually, Afdal divested his stake in Philsaga to establish a new venture in partnership with the Manobo tribe. Aside from business, Afdal was an avid rider and a member of the On Any Sunday Riders Club of Davao City.