THE kidnapping and aggravated assault charges against Peter Deleon Guerrero — also known as “Dragon” or “Paduna” — were dropped by prosecutors on Friday.
Deleon Guerrero and co-defendants Heejung Hwang and Yichuan Bai are accused of assaulting a tour guide in a case linked by the Department of Public Safety to a viral hit-and-run incident in Garapan on Aug. 25, 2025.
The defendants were initially charged with kidnapping, assault, aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and disturbing the peace. In an amended information filed in court, Deleon Guerrero is now only charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.
Bai’s name has also been removed from the caption of the case. Authorities have not provided information on why this change was made.
Deleon Guerrero and Hwang are in custody, while Bai remained at large as of Monday afternoon. DPS is asking the public for information regarding Bai’s whereabouts.
According to court documents, Deleon Guerrero pointed a handgun at Jijing Agulto Borja and threatened to kill him. Deleon Guerrero also allegedly punched and kicked Borja multiple times while he was on the ground.
At a preliminary hearing on Friday, Superior Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho found probable cause to charge Deleon Guerrero with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery, following testimony from a police detective.
Deleon Guerrero was represented by attorney Michael Evangelista, while Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds appeared for the government. Judge Camacho remanded Deleon Guerrero to the custody of the Department of Corrections and ordered him to return to court for arraignment on Sept. 22 at 9 a.m. before Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja.
Hwang, represented by attorney Joaquin Torres, was granted a continuance for his preliminary hearing, now scheduled for Oct. 1 at 10 a.m.
The victim told investigators he was physically assaulted by Hwang, Bai, and Deleon Guerrero for nearly three hours at Deleon Guerrero’s residence in Chinatown. He said the attackers used a gun and a metal object during the assault.
The victim provided a Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation discharge document showing he visited the emergency room on Aug. 26, 2025, at 1:47 a.m., and sustained multiple facial, head, torso, arm, and leg abrasions, contusions, and a nasal fracture.
According to the victim, he was picked up by Bai at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 from the former Hyatt Resort in Garapan and driven to Deleon Guerrero’s residence. He said they met Deleon Guerrero and Hwang inside a black SUV. While inside, Hwang reportedly dragged the victim to the ground by his hair and began punching and kicking him. Deleon Guerrero and Bai then joined in, beating him for 10–30 minutes, the victim said.
He added that Hwang threw him back into the SUV, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at him while cursing and threatening him. He said Hwang struck him multiple times with the gun, while Deleon Guerrero continued hitting him over a prior dispute about damage to his car.
The victim said Bai pointed the gun at his face, struck his head with it, and pressed it under his chin, repeatedly asking, “You think you’re tough? You want to die?”
The victim said Hwang demanded his phone password. When Deleon Guerrero entered the wrong password, Hwang struck the victim’s head and instructed Bai and Deleon Guerrero to take him to a farm and kill him. After the fifth attempt, the victim said Deleon Guerrero reset and formatted the phone.
The victim attempted to escape but was hit on the head with a metal hook by Hwang. After approximately three hours, the victim was returned to his car at the former Hyatt.
DPS has stated that the viral hit-and-run in Garapan on Aug. 25, 2025, was connected to the assault case. The crash, near the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation office, involved a tan Toyota Tacoma striking a black vehicle and a cyclist before speeding away. Video of the incident quickly circulated on social media.
Capt. Jeff Olopai, commander of DPS Criminal Investigation Bureau, said the black vehicle was being driven by the kidnapping victim. “The victim was unable to make a phone call, so he used his vehicle to try to stop the suspects by ramming their vehicle, but they still got away,” Olopai said.
DPS said the Tacoma has been destroyed, and the owner has been identified and may face additional charges. “That vehicle — we do not have it in custody. It was destroyed. Through our investigation, we were able to identify it, and it was basically shredded,” Olopai added.
