Ryan Mark Baylon who is the president of JB Earthmovers Inc. based in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and Saga’s business associate, the alleged mastermind in Afdal murder was arrested through an alias warrant of arrest on July 1, 2024 in Barangay Talahiron, Kibawe town, Bukidnon, after almost three months of hiding.
“This recent breakthrough in the case was made possible by the collaborative work of our gallant police officers from the Bunawan, Agusan del Sur municipal police station led by its station commander Major Ralph Jezen Perez,” Che Afdal, the daughter of Saga said in a recent press conference held in Davao City.
Afdal also thanked other police units including the Philippine Army for their resolute effort in tracking, locating and eventually arresting Baylon.
“This development significantly boosts our morale and that of his friends and associates who cared for him deeply, hence, we are ever emboldened to continue the fight for justice, if only to honor the name and legacy of SAGA,” Afdal said.
Perez said the arrest of Baylon came after they received information from the Special Operations Group-11 who was then led by Lieutenant Colonel Hamlet Lerios about the location of Baylon in Bukidnon.
“Sa tulong na rin ng community don, may nakuha kaming asset don na nagpinpoint nga na nakita si Baylon sa lugar particularly sa Barangay Talahirod, Kibawe, Bukidnon.
Baylon who is currently detained in Quezon City jail is facing murder charges alongside Rosalino Degracia and Alemar Awado with no bail recommended.
Evelyn Afdal, Saga’s widow in her affidavit-complaint has cited motives of killing his husband.
She said Baylon caused the obliteration of company records that show SAGA owning 50% of the shares of JB Earthmovers, and his son, 1%. The Afdal family is set to pose a legal contest over this issue and Baylon attempted to take control of Rosario Manobo Mining Corporation, the company established by SAGA after selling his interests in Philsaga Mining Corporation.
Prior to SAGA’s killing, he had ordered the conduct of a financial audit on JB Earthmovers to find out about its supposed operating losses.
Afdal was ambushed in Santa Cruz, Rosario, Agusan del Sur on October 26, 2021 while he was driving alone toward an area where he had a mining prospect.
He initially survived the shooting, however, he eventually succumbed to his gunshot wounds while undergoing medication in a hospital.
Afdal’s legal counsel lawyer Xilexferen Barroga confirmed that Baylon filed a petition for bail through his lawyer.
Barroga said the case is now being heard in Quezon City after the Supreme Court granted the request of Mrs. Afdal to transfer the venue from Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur due to the threats that were duly verified by proper government agencies.
Barroga sees the speedy proceedings of the murder case because the Quezon City court is conducting trial twice a week.
Che Afdal, daughter of the late retired army Colonel Samuel Afdal reads the statement of the family in a recent press conference in Davao City following the arrest of Ryan Mark Baylon.
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