PNP still looking for suspects in pharma exec killing

MANILA (UPDATE) -The hunt is still on for the suspects in the killing of a pharmaceutical executive in July, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

“Base po sa huling coordination natin sa Bureau of Immigration ay nandito pa rin naman sila. Kaya kasabay ng pagfa-file natin ng kaso sa DOJ ay nag-request na rin tayo ng Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order para tayo ay ma-advisan po na kung sakaling maga-attempt yung mga suspects na lumabas ng jurisdiction ng Philippines at kung sakaling official na maisampa itong kaso sa ating korte ay nakatakda po magsampa at mag-request ang PNP sa korte ng Hold Departure Order para hindi makalabas itong mga suspects natin,” said Police Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the PNP, in an interview.

Fajardo said the primary suspect is still on the run, while the other suspects who are minors have surrendered to authorities with the help of their parents.

Assisted by their legal counsel, the suspects under custody issued a testimony detailing how they were recruited. They also aided the police in locating the crime scene and how the alleged crime was done, said Fajardo.

“Gusto ko pong kunin itong pagkakataon na ito: Kung nanood yung ating primary suspect na napangalanan na rin sa ating mga different media forum na doon sa kanilang mga kaanak at mahal sa buhay, ay sumuko na po kayo dahil hindi naman po habang panahon ay matatakasan niyo itong kaso na ito,” the police spokesperson said.

The sister of victim Eduardo Tolosa appealed to one of the primary suspects to surrender and cooperate with authorities.

Kapatid ng dinukot at pinaslang na pharma executive, nagtungo sa Department of Justice kasama si Atty.Harry Roque.

Nanawagan ang pamilya sa isa sa mga itinuturong pangunahing suspek sa krimen na sumuko at dumalo sa preliminary investigation. pic.twitter.com/W6jw0W3yk2

— jeffrey hernaez 🇵🇭 (@jeffreyhernaez) September 7, 2022

"I want you to come out and prove yourself and see if there's justice. So please come out and prove yourself. But for the meantime, he is one of the suspects that killed my brother," Alpha Serranilla said.

Harry Roque, the family's lawyer, said the man they are looking for is the last person who was seen with the victim.

"Tinuturo ng mga testigo na siya ang kasama nung namatay na Eduard Tolosa nung araw na siya'y nawala, na siya ang nagda-drive ng white na Landcruiser nung araw na siya'y nawala. At sinasabi rin ng testigo na siya ang nagbayad para ilibing at sunugin ang katawan ni Eduard Tolosa ng tatlong araw," Roque said.

Roque said they are not accusing the said suspect, but they encourage him to prove his innocence by surrendering to authorities.

"Hindi po namin sinasabi na kayo na ang salarin. Pero kung wala po kayong tinatago, sumipot kayo sa preliminary investigation. At kung kapani-paniwala po ang depensa ninyo, meron naman po tayong rule of law Kung kayo po ay walang pagkakasala, pasinungalingan niyo po ang sinasabi ng hindi bababa sa limang mga testigo na kayo nga po ang kasama ng araw na nawala si Eduard Tolosa, at kayo ang nag-utos na ilibing at sunugin ang bangkay," he said.

Serranilla said their family will ask for the help of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation since Tolosa had dual citizenship.

"We are all devastated. He's very hardworking. He's a beloved son, beloved brother and a beloved friend to everyone, very good hearted person. We can't believe that this is happening to our family. It's really painful," she said.

• Kidnapping, murder, arson raps filed vs 11 suspects in disappearance of pharma exec

- with a report from Jeffrey Hernaez

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