Village chief links abducted Roxas City man to illegal drugs

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A 22-year-old man who claimed he was abducted, mauled, and held for three days by three suspects before escaping Sunday afternoon, Jan. 18, from a safe house along Philippines Railway Street in Barangay Punta Tabuc here was linked to illegal drugs, a barangay official said.

Banica punong barangay Xander Mike Agrasada made the statement in reaction to the incident involving the man, identified as Durana, which occurred recently in Barangay Punta Tabuc.

Agrasada said barangay officials had been monitoring Durana after his name was listed in the Barangay Drug Abuse Council of Banica and noted that he was frequently seen in Barangay Punta Tabuc.

Durana, also known by the alias “Koob,” is a resident of Elieta Street in Barangay Banica and was brought to the hospital following his escape.

Durana claimed he was detained inside a room where he was beaten and shot twice in the right foot with an unidentified caliber of firearm.

He said that at around 5 p.m. on Jan. 18, the suspects were no longer around, giving him the opportunity to escape despite his injuries.

Durana identified the suspects as Chenito Abaldonado y De Asis, alias “Toti De Asis,” of Railway Street, Barangay IX; a certain “Pidoy” of Barangay Tiza; and Jeff Brondial, alias “Alog Badjao,” of Railway Street, Barangay Punta Tabuc.

According to Durana, the incident began at around 10 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2026, when he was at Bayot Drive and the suspects allegedly approached him and forcibly brought him to a compound along Philippines Railway Street.

Police authorities have not yet released an official statement on the case as of this writing, while barangay officials said they are coordinating with law enforcement for further investigation.