THREE men, including a purok leader of Tibungco village, were arrested at their residence Monday on accusation of being behind the kidnap for ransom and murder of a businessman in May this year.

Police did not reveal the kidnap for ransom incident when it happened, since the family was still getting ransom demands.

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The suspects were identified as Roberto Bonghanoy, 47, a resident of Blessed Homes, barangay Bunawan; Rodrigo Libres, 49, a resident of purok 1, Barangay Tibungco; and Rodolfo Pinuela Sr., 67, purok leader of purok 5-A, Sto. Niño, Barangay Tibungco, Davao City.

Bonghanoy, Libres, and Pinuela, along with two other suspects identified as alias Otik and Joel, were allegedly behind the abduction and slay of Jonathan Bacus Wee Eng, a resident of Sto. Domingo Street in Doña Pilar subdivision, Barangay Sasa.

Senior Supt. Ramon Apolinario, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director, said in an interview with Sun.Star Superbalita, that one of the suspects reported the crime and identified his accomplices. He did not say which one.

A group, composed of members of the Investigation Detection and Management Section (IDMS), Heinous Crime and Investigation Section (HCIS), Special Anti-terrorism Unit (Satu), and the Bunawan Police was formed to arrest the suspects.

"The family was receiving ransom demand from the suspects. But the other day, one of the suspects divulged the incident. Pinuntahan naming yong residence ng mga suspects at doon namin sila hinuli. Nahukay din namin ang bangkay ng victim doon sa Purok 3, Barangay San Isidro, Bunawan district," Apolinario said.

The victim was abducted on May 23. His body, when excavated, bore several stab wounds.

"Maraming sugat ang katawan ng victim na nailibing ng more or less hanggang tuhod ang lalim. Siguro mga three weeks to one month na nailibing ang victim. 'Di kasi magkatugma ang pahayag ng mga suspects kung kailan nila pinatay. Ang isa nagsabi na pinatay nila noong May 26, at ang isa nagsabing June 1," Apolinario said.

Police recovered a samurai, believed to be used in hacking the victim, at the hideout of the suspects, a booklet from a religious cult, an identification card, firearms license, and the victim's vehicle registration. The victim's Strada pick-up was parked outside Pinuela's house in purok 4, Barangay Tibungco.

Pinuela told Sun.Star he does not know the owner of the vehicle and that it was just left there by Bonghanoy.

"Wala ko kabalo kung kang kinsa ang sakyanan, basta gibilin lang na sa akoa isip purok leader (I don't know who owns that. It was just left with me being a purok leader)," Pinuela said.

Libres told Sun.Star Superbalita that Bongahoy introduced himself as a member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Libres added it was Bonghanoy who introduced him to one alias Otik who is allegedly the mastermind of the crime.

"Ako maoy ginasakyan ni Bonghanoy sa iyang mga lakaw kay naa man koy motor. Midikit ko niya kay gusto man ko mopalit og armas kay company guard man ko. Iya kong gipaila kang Otik nga kauban nila sa grupo (I've been driving around with Bonghanoy on my motorcycle whenever he has some business to attend to. I wanted to befriend him because I wanted to buy a firearm since my job is that of a company guard)," Libres said.

The suspects are presently detained at DCPO while Otik and Joel are the subject of manhunt operations.

"Imonitor namin yong pamilya ng mga suspetsado at 'yung mga taong kakilala nila para malaman natin kung saan sila nagtatago," Apolinario said.

He added they will ask the relatives of the victim to identify whether the body is that of Wee Eng.

"Sa ngayon pupuntahan namin ang family ng victim para sila ang mag-identify sa dead body," Apolinario said. (AD)