Modh Abdullah and Sarah Lalata-Buco (image credit - Sarah Lalata-Buco)

By Michael Reeve

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

Mohd Abdullah’s daughter ‘happy and overwhelmed’ after first-degree murder charge approved

May 15, 2023 | 4:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — Fourteen months after Mohd Abdullah was last seen in Kamloops, his family has some closure. Rogelio ‘Butch’ Bagabuyo was charged with first-degree murder in Abdullah’s death on Friday (May 12).

“Really happy and overwhelmed, also,” Abdullah’s daughter, Sarah Lalata-Buco, told CFJC Today from The Philippines. “That finally Butch will experience, I mean be in jail, hopefully, because of what he has done to Sarah’s father,” added her husband, Jhuls Buco.

The news about the charge came as a surprise to Lalata-Buco and her husband as they expected the investigation to drag out for another year or so. Hearing it was Butch who was being investigated always came as a surprise, calling him a trusted friend.

“Butch Bagabuyo is his trusted friend and lawyer. When (Mohd) visited us in the Philippines, he kept telling us that he has a friend there, he’s Filipino as well. His lawyer,” said Lalata-Buco.

The RCMP stated that the investigation was long and complicated and resulted in the arrest of the former lawyer in Kamloops last week.

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“I can confirm that on May 12, members of our Serious Crimes Unit did arrest Mr. Bagabuyo after a lengthy investigation that was complex and was supported by several of our support sections here at the detachment, which resulted in Crown counsel approving one count of first-degree murder,” said Kamloops RCMP Staff Sgt. Todd Wiebe.

As the case is now before the courts, the Mounties were limited in what they could release.

“Excellent combined team effort of not only some of the local sections here in the RCMP but we also had outside support as well from some of our sections down in the Lower Mainland,” added Wiebe.

Abdullah’s family hopes the former professor is remembered fondly here in Kamloops and back home in the Philippines.

“He’s kind and he has a good heart. That why his students at the university love him so much,” said Lalata-Buco.

Bagabuyo’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 5.