A federal judge will decide in May whether an accused kidnapper on the Philippines’ 10 most wanted list will be sent back to his homeland.

Eddie Trinidad has a May 12 extradition hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, according to Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“Basically, we represent the foreign government (at the hearing). On behalf of that government we present information to the court,” Mrozek told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

He said if the court finds there is probable cause that Trinidad committed crimes in the Philippines, it can order his extradition.

Filipino officials want to try Trinidad in the Philippines. He remains in federal custody. His federal public defender couldn’t be reached for comment.

Trinidad, who has an 850,000-peso (about $15,680 in U.S. dollars) bounty on his head, had stayed with a cousin in West Covina then moved from place to place.

He sold dentures while he was allegedly on the run.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents arrested him Oct. 7 in Los Angeles as he allegedly tried to sell a used van.

He is ranked No. 3 on the National Anti Kidnapping Task Force list of most wanted kidnappers and is the No. 7 most wanted person in the Philippines, according to Jose Antonio Salvacion, police senior superintendent with the Philippine National Police Commission.

“Trinidad belongs to the so- called Fajardo Kidnap for Ransom Group operating nationwide. He is tagged as the financier and logistic provider of the group,” Salvacion said.

His group is responsible for at least 16 kidnappings in 2001 and 2002, Salvacion said.

Filipino officials have charged Trinidad with kidnapping for ransom; they issued a warrant for his arrest on March 18, 2002.

The charge stems from the Dec. 20, 2001, kidnapping of Victor Castaneda, an executive who was taken while on his way to the office by armed men dressed in police uniforms.

Trinidad, who was a resident of Cupang, Antipolo City in the Philippines, was allegedly seen in a Kia near the dropoff point. The car was one of three allegedly used by the kidnappers.

The 43-year-old Castaneda, vice president of ABACAST Shipping, was released two days later after a 10-million-peso ($184,400 U.S.) ransom was paid.