US serviceman on AWOL hunted down

La Trinidad, Benguet — A US serviceman, who went AWOL (absent without official leave) while he was reportedly taking part in the Balikatan joint military exercise, is being hunted by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) which has tagged him as the one who allegedly masterminded the kidnap-slaying of a Chinese-Filipino businessman.

The NAKTF released the other day a photograph of Paul "Banjo" Leyaley Sumbad, 28, who operates a gasoline station in this capital town.

The Regional Trial Court Branch 62 here has issued arrest warrants for Sumbad and a certain Roger Agtulao.

The NAKTF tagged Sumbad, a native of Sabangan, Mountain Province, as the one who allegedly financed the kidnapping of businessman Senly Loy last March 18.

Loy’s charred remains were found in a shallow grave along the Halsema Highway only recently, two months after he was seized in Atok, Benguet.

The task force said Sumbad even paid P20,000 a month for the safehouse of Loy’s kidnappers along Ambuklao Road in Baguio City.

The NAKTF said Sumbad came to the Philippines for the first joint Balikatan military exercise but went AWOL. He subsequently put up a gas station here.

On the day Loy’s body was found, the NAKTF said the kidnappers’ alleged leader, Jefferson Ab-abor, surrendered, leading to the arrest of four other suspects.