Kidnapper of man found ‘salvaged’ in Tuba hunted

Van owner in abduction named; garage taxi driver shot dead in Trinidad  

BAGUIO CITY  --  Police are now looking for a man who got out from a van, forced a resident here inside the vehicle who was later found dead in  nearby Tuba, Benguet Tuesday.

Motive of the crime is still being established whether this was related to drugs, business or love triangle.

Police identified the victim as Proseso Arboleda Arevalo Jr., 54, married, and a resident of No. 222 Victoria Village here as confirmed by his 23-year-old live in partner of Mankayan, Benguet.

The victim went out around 9:30 p.m. Monday towards his vehicle parked along the road when the occupant of the Pregio van, with license plate number XBG 573, later found by police to be registered in the name of Diosdado Nasic forcibly forced the victim inside the vehicle as testified to by his daughter Ghia Junelle Arevalo.

A Tuba police report meanwhile said on Tuesday around 7 a.m., they received

a phone call from punong barangay Lorna Runas of San Pascual, Tuba that a dead person was found along the riprap of the provincial road at Sitio Tarong, Barangay San Pascual.

Investigation disclosed that around 5 a.m. Tuesday, while a certain Junior Gabriel Luis, 47, married, farmer was cutting grass for his cattle, he found the body of the  male person about 35 to 45 years old, 5'6" in height, wearing camouflage short pants, black sando with Hawaii marking, green jacket, fair complexion and wearing one brown shoe.

The victim, who was later identified as that of Arevalo was found with a belt tied around his neck while his face, hands and feet were tied with packing tape. 

A placard with markings of "Akoy Pusher” The Punisher was taped on his body.

Police said the tag could have been put to mislead investigators.

In La Trinidad, Benguet, a taxi garage driver was shot dead here Tuesday around 8:40 a.m. by a still unidentified man.

A police report said they received a call from a certain Silvester Cleto informing them that a shooting incident transpired here at Barangay Shilan wherein victim Jerold Alos Pulas, 44, of Bahong here was shot.

 Investigation disclosed while the victim and his brother identified as Henry Pulas, 39, were waiting for passengers, he heard three gun shots then saw his brother already lying on the ground.

The suspect wearing red shirt immediately ran towards Sitio Pagal, Shilan. Victim was rushed to Benguet General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician.