A FORMER soldier tagged in the kidnapping and killing of a businessman in 2013 was arrested on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.
Diosito Sagrada, who was declared absent without official leave (Awol) from the military in 1995, is among five suspects in the kidnapping and killing of Eric Constantino.
Major Ronaldo Lumactod, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-kidnapping Group (AKG), said Thursday, September 17, 2020, that Sagrada’s group abducted Constantino on June 5, 2013 in Pandacan, Manila.
The group brought Constantino to Nagcarlan, Laguna, where he was killed and his body left on a side street.
Lumactod said a certain Mel Pangilinan was tagged as the mastermind of the killing.
“It was due to jealousy. Ito kasing victim ay nagugustuhan daw nung wife nung Mel kaya pinadukot siya at pinapatay,” said Lumactod.
“Itong Mel ay isang abugado at tumakbo pa nung election noong 2013 as representative ng Agri partylist,” he added.
He said even after the victim was killed, the suspects continued to ask for money and threaten Constantino’s family.
Sagrada said he was working for Pangilinan when the latter instructed them to abduct Constantino. He denied any hand in the killing.
“Wala po (binayad) nagtatrabaho kami noon sa kanya at napagutusan lang kami.. Hindi kami (ang pumatay). May iba siyang gunman,” he said.
Lumactod said teams from the AKG were tracking Pangilinan and other members of the group. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)