THE MANHUNT for the killers of slain retired colonel Samuel Afdal is ongoing after receiving the arrest warrant from the court on April 12.
In a press conference on Friday, April 19, Atty. Xilexferen Barroga, a lawyer for the Afdal family, Judge Juris Dilinila-Callanta of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 85, signed the warrant on April 5 against Ryan Mark Baylon, the victim’s business associate, and Rosalino “Okie” Degracia, ex-rebel, for the murder of the retired colonel.
No bail was recommended for both Baylon and Degracia.
To recall, Afdal was ambushed on Oct. 26, 2021, while driving to the mining site. He was wounded but was able to drive away to seek help in the compound of RMMC. From there, he was rushed to the nearest hospital and was given medical attention. A month later, Afdal succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 15, 2021.
Barroga said the case is now being heard in Quezon City RTC. During a hearing on April 18, 2024, the complainant had asked the court to issue a hold departure order against Baylon.
Baylon and Degracia were among the four suspects in the ambush of Afdal in 2021. Meanwhile, Alemar “Dongkoy” Awado already surrendered to the authorities in Bislig, Surigao.
The legal team said they received information that Degracia surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Davao but the team is yet to confirm it.
Pmaj. Ralph Jezen Perez said the manhunt against Baylon continues as he remains at large. Perez said they already visited the residence of Baylon in Sitio Masapya, Brgy. Consuelo, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur and in its office address at JB Earthmovers, Inc. but to no avail.
The Quezon City Court ordered the execution of the warrant within 10 days from receipt of the warrant and to return the same within 10 days after the expiration of such period.
After 10 days, if Bunawan police authorities are unable to arrest him, the warrant will return “unserved” and the prosecution will file a motion to issue an alias warrant that the accused will be considered a fugitive from justice.
Baylon and Degracia, along with Awado were indicted by Prosecutor Ceferino Paredes before the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on January 31, prior to the wish of Afdal’s family for transfer of venue to Quezon City RTC.
This was following the confession of gunman Jeffrey Mamerto who is currently serving a sentence of 10 years in prison provincial jail after being convicted of the crime last year on Nov. 15.
Mamerto pointed to Baylon as the mastermind who allegedly offered P200,000 to Degracia and Awado for the job. He was then given P50,000 by the two for helping them gun down Afdal.
The family of Afdal called the law enforcement agencies to act and dispatch to bring the suspects before the court and face justice.
“We also hope and pray that the flow of justice will go on unimpeded,” a family member said in a statement.
