By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – A man who was found dead in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Sunday was reportedly abducted from his house in Barangay Estefania here late Saturday night.
Police Major Ritchie Gohee, head of Police Station 4, said 46-year-old Levy Ortega was allegedly forcibly taken by 10 unidentified armed persons from his house after he failed to give the “item” that the perpetrators were asking from him.
Gohee said that of the 10 perpetrators, five of them stormed the victim’s house, threatened him and his child at gunpoint and tied them up. The five others remained in the van, sports utility vehicle, and a motorcycle, based on the statement of his child.
Gohee said the victim’s 14-year-old child did not immediately report the incident to the police as he feared for his safety.
It was on Sunday when the victim’s children identified him in Himamaylan City.
Gohee said they received information that the victim was reportedly engaging in the illegal drug trade, but he was not on the drugs watchlist of the police.
Despite this, Police Lieutenant Romulo Gepilango, deputy police chief of Himamaylan City Police Station, could not confirm if the incident can be considered drug-related.
Gepilango said they are still checking the background of the victim, who was believed to be a victim of a summary execution.
Ortega was found with gunshot wounds in the head at the roadside in Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan City.
The victim’s eyes were covered with masking tape, while his head was covered with a bonnet and wrapped with packaging tape. His hands and feet were also tied with packaging tape.
A placard was also found beside the victim mentioning three names with a threat, including a candidate in the fifth district who was a former barangay captain.
When asked about the names on the placard, Gepilango said that per investigation, the candidate did not know the victim.
“Ang isa lang daw kilala niya kay upod sa kampanya, pero ang isa pa gid nga gin mention kag ang biktima indi niya kilala,” Gepilango said.
Gepilango said they could not yet establish the motive.
