BACOLOD City – A businessman who was reportedly abducted Monday night was found dead hogtied in Barangay Mandalagan here the following day.
Ontao Sacar, 67, the president of the Maranao Muslim Brotherhood organization in this city, died of two gunshot wounds on the head.
Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said the victim and his 30-year-old wife were on their home in Barangay 8 around 9:20 p.m. on Monday when three unidentified armed men allegedly dragged Sacar inside a red sports utility vehicle. The suspects then sped away to an undetermined direction.
Sacar’s wife immediately reported the incident to the nearest police station and pursuit operations were conducted, Pico added.
On Tuesday morning, the victim’s lifeless body was discovered by a security guard at the back of a hotel in Barangay Mandalagan.
According to Pico, the victim was hogtied on his hands and legs. His face was covered with packing tape while his mouth was covered with duct tape.
Initial autopsy performed by the Scene of the Crime Operatives showed the victim had a bullet wound on the left side of his face.
The words “I love drugs” were also discovered written on his body, along with a cardboard sign saying “Wag tularan, big time pusher ako.”
According to Pico, the victim had previously surrendered to the police through Oplan Tokhang in September 2018 at the area of Police Station 6.
The BCPO spokesperson, however, said they are not yet considering the case as drug-related.
“We are not disregarding if the case stemmed from illegal drugs, but we are also looking at business interests and personal grudges because he is a businessman,” Pico said.
Pico noted the abduction was planned and the victim was possibly stalked by the suspects for a long time.
He further said they are also investigating if the victim was connected to Mohaisin Magondacan, who was arrested in Barangay Alijis last month after police recovered P1.2 million of suspected shabu in his residence.
Pico disclosed that it is too early for now to consider the incident as a salvage case. Police are conducting further investigation over Sacar’s murder./PN
