A QUEZON City court sentenced four kidnappers to life imprisonment terms for the abduction of a 15-year-old girl six years ago.
Sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua were Joseph Randy Mendoza, 38; Maria Victoria Acuatin, 44; Joselito Mortega, 37; and Nelson Pilar.
Pilar died due to lingering illness while detained at the Las Piñas City Jail. He was a driver working for the family of kidnap victim Kathleen Pacquing and the court found that he acted as tipster for the group.
Pacquing, now 21 years old, was with her parents during the promulgation of sentence last Thursday at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 94 in Quezon City when presiding judge, Leili Cruz Suarez, handed the verdict.
The victim was abducted in New Manila, Quezon City on July 23, 2002 and was held for ransom by her kidnappers for seven days in Imus, Cavite.
She was released by her kidnappers on July 30, 2002 after her family negotiated for a ransom pay-off that include cash and a Honda car.
Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (Pacer) policemen arrested the four kidnappers in their hideout in Imus, Cavite two days later and were presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang as a major accomplishment of the Philippine National Police (PNP) against kidnapping.
"Every arrest and every rescue brings us closer to our goal. There will be no rest until victims get the justice they deserve," the President said.
During that news conference in Malacañang in 2002, President Arroyo reminded citizens to seek police assistance in checking the background of persons they are hiring to work in their households.
Pacer Chief Leonardo Espina said the verdict on the kidnappers is "a triumph of justice."
"This case is a classic example of how well the law enforcement, the prosecution, and community can work together to bring kidnappers behind bars," Espina said.
He acknowledged the cooperation of the victim's family, volunteers of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) led by Teresita Ang-See, and the prosecution team led by Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Emilie delos Santos and State Prosecutor Elizabeth Bernal.
Espina noted that this is not the first case that a kidnap victim's own employee is involved as a key player in the crime. He recalled the kidnapping in 2002 of Mary Grace Cheng Rosagas wherein the victim's employee Florante Concepcion was among the kidnappers. (VR/Sunnex)
