11 rapped over exec’s kidnap-murder

Eleven individuals were charged with kidnapping for ransom, murder and arson before the Department of Justice over the disappearance of a chief executive officer of a pharmaceutical company based in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The Philippine National Police's Anti-Kidnapping Group filed the charges on behalf of the family of 50-year-old Eduardo Tolosa, owner of Iraseth Pharma Inc., who was reported missing on 21 July 2022 by his nephew Carl Allan Tolosa.

A preliminary investigation is being sought by the PNP-AKG against Carlo Cadampog, Ceasar Cadampog, David Gundran, John Benedict Dumalanta, Melvin Leonor Andes, Lechor Andres, Victor Ragodon Ferrer, Adrian Joseph Mendez, Richmeld Ignilan, a certain Tomtom and one unidentified male person.

The complaint was referred to the DoJ-Anti-Kidnapping Group chaired by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon.

Sworn statements were submitted by officers and employees of Iraseth Pharma and the personal driver of Tolosa to prove the participation of the suspects in the crime. Photographs of the place where Tolosa's body was burned and dumped in Santo Tomas, Batangas were also provided.

Prior to his disappearance, Tolosa left his house on board a white Toyota Land Cruiser to meet someone in Tagaytay, Cavite City on 19 July 2022.

Iraseth Pharma's vice president for finance Delia Taboniag told probers that on the same day, she received a call from his boss, instructing her to prepare cash amounting to US$102,700, 2,800 euro, 186 Singaporean dollar, one Rolex watch and one Hublot watch.

Taboniag was to get the money and watches from Tolosa's vault for delivery to him at BGC by the company messenger. After delivery of the cash and expensive watches, Tolosa's mobile phone went dead she said.

The police gathered CCTV footage at C5-South Luzon Expressway showing Tolosa's vehicle being driven by an unidentified person who alighted at the RFID boot, and at the Shell southbound gas station as the trader and his driver alighted from the vehicle parked in front of a restaurant.

The RFID customer care hub at Doña Soledad Avenue, Better Living Subdivision in Paranaque City also provided video footage of the Toyota Land Cruiser accompanied by a Mitsubishi Mirage passing through three times in their RFID toll gates on 19 July.

Probers were able to identify Caesar Cadampog as the RFID applicant for the Mitsubishi Mirage through the cell phone number he used in registering for the RFID.

On 8 August 2022, Dumalanta and Gundran voluntarily surrendered to the PNP-AKG and expressed their willingness to tell all about the kidnapping and killing of Tolosa.

Andes also turned himself over to the police and executed an affidavit detailing the circumstances surrounding Tolosa's killing and the personalities involved.

The PNP-AKG said Tolosa's Land Cruiser was burned down by the suspects in San Luis, Pampanga.