Suspected Ilocos pusher kidnapped, executed

CAMP ELPIDIO QUIRINO, Bantay, Ilocos Sur — A group of heavily armed men kidnapped Friday a suspected drug dealer in Narvacan town and later executed him.

Kidnapped and killed was Ronnie Valentino, 37, of Barangay Sta. Lucia, Narvacan. His body was found in Sitio Tapawan in Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur, riddled with M-16 Arrmalite bullets.

Valentino was found hog-tied and blindfolded when his body was recovered with the help of road construction workers who reported their find to the local police.

Police investigation showed that about seven to nine armed men in military uniforms first hijacked two vehicles along the highway in Balaoan, La Union.

From Balaoan, the hijackers proceeded to Valentino’s house and snatched him at about 10:15 a.m. Friday.

Observers wondered how the group successfully carried out their daring operation without attracting police attention.

It was learned that the carnap victims immediately reported the incident to the police. The perpetrators took at least one hour to reach Narvacan from Balaoan, and 30 minutes from Narvacan to Lidlidda where they dumped Valentino’s body.

The hijacked vehicles were both found abandoned a kilometer away from where Valentino’s body was dumped. — Teddy Molina