Man abducted in Batangas found dead in Quezon —police

A 25-year-old man abducted in Taal, Batangas on Tuesday was found dead in Sariaya, Quezon the next day, the Police Regional Office 4A said on Thursday.

According to police reports, a concerned citizen saw the body of Eugene Del Rosario on the shoulder of Eco Tourism Road in Sitio Pontor Barangay Bignay 2 at around 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

Del Rosario’s face and hands were covered and tied with packaging tape, according to the police.

Del Rosario’s live-in partner Maureen Cabello on Wednesday reported to the police that the victim was abducted in front of a gas station in Barangay Mahabang Ludlod, Taal, Batangas.

CCTV footage showed that the victim alighted from a bus on Tuesday at 7:53 p.m. While standing on the side of the road, several armed suspects aboard a gray SUV and a gray sedan abducted him.

The vehicles of the suspects fled in the direction of Sta. Teresita, Batangas, the police said.

In Andrew Bernardo’s report on “24 Oras”, the local police said the initial investigation showed the victim may have been involved in illegal activities.

‘Ito pong asawa at ina ay nagbigay ng pahayag. Sinabi mismo na ito ay isa sa miyembro ng mga ‘Bukas-Kotse’ gang na nambibiktima dito sa ating probinsya at mga karatig-bayan,” Taal, Batangas police chief Police Major Dante Majadas said.

(His partner and mother issued a statement saying the victim was a member of "Bukas-Kotse" gang that victimizes people here in the province and nearby towns.)

“Pag ganyan kasi, pag bayan, nandudukot allegedly tapos mga kabataan, kini-kidnap. We'll see to it we'll dig deeper,” Batangas Acting Provincial Director Police Colonel Pedro Soliba said.

(Incidences of kidnapping usually happen in municipalities. We’ll see to it we’ll dig deeper.)

GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog reached out to the victim’s family for comment but they have yet to respond. — Joviland Rita and Sundy Locus/BM, GMA News