CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, Central Luzon police director, has ordered an intensified manhunt for the arrest of four alleged kidnap suspects who went into hiding following the arrest of their leader last week in Barangay Hacienda Dolores, Porac, Pampanga.
Barangay Chairman Antonio Tolentino was arrested on April 16 by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Irin Zenaida S. Buan of Branch 56 of the Regional Trial Court in Olongapo City. Tolentino is now detained at the Angeles City Jail for the non-bailable case of kidnapping with serious physical injuries and a separate carjacking charge with P80,000 bail.
“[The] arrested suspect was turned over to Angeles City Jail after the commitment order was signed by Buan.
With this accomplishment, the Police Regional Office 3 will carry on its mandated tasks to enforce the law and place lawless elements behind bars,” Petrasanta said. Still at large are Tolentino’s kin identifi ed as Ener, Ed, Eddie and Erwin all surnamed Tolentino.
The suspects’ case stemmed from the charges filed by security guard Larry Sabado who was allegedly abducted and nearly killed by Tolentino’s group when they attacked in January the security outpost within the property of the LLL Co. based in the said barangay.
Although his hands were tied, Sabado, a former Marine, was able to escape from the house of the barangay captain where he was taken. “Sana mabigyan ng hustisya ang ginawa nila sa akin. Sinusuportahan ko po ang ginagawang effort ni General Petrasanta para mahuli ang apat pang suspek (I hope I could attain justice with what they did to me. I support the efforts of Gen. Petrasanta to hunt down the four suspects),” Sabado said.
The barangay captain is also leader of the Aniban ng Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Hacienda Dolores, a group that was claiming ownership of Hacienda Dolores by virtue of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms.
Aniban is supported by militant groups such as the Alyansa ng mga Magsasaka ng Gitnang Luzon, Kilusang Magsasaka ng Pilipinas and Anakpawis party-list group, among others. Some politicians engaged in the quarry business were also allegedly supporting Tolentino’s group.
Tolentino is also facing administrative charges before the Sangguniang Bayan in Porac for grave misconduct, oppression, abuse of authority, acts prejudicial to public service, and commission of a crime in relation to the January incident.
