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Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Rogue policeman, five others sentenced to death for kidnapping (4:30 p.m.)
MANILA -- A lower court on Wednesday sentenced a former policeman and five other defendants to death for kidnapping, court officials said.
Ex-cop Carlos Ruiz and his co-accused were found guilty of the December 1998 abduction of two Chinese-Filipino sisters, an aide to Manila regional trial court judge Teresa Soriaso said.
Police rescued the two victims eight days after their abduction at a resort south of Manila, following a raid that killed a seventh suspect.
The gang had demanded a 30 million-peso ransom for both victims, according to a community-based anti-crime monitor, Citizens Action Against Crime.
President Arroyo announced last week that she would no longer veto the judicial execution of convicted kidnappers and drug dealers.
She declared a moratorium on the death penalty soon after assuming office in early 2001, but said the government needed to satisfy the people's thirst for retribution, following a fresh surge of kidnappings this year. (AFP) |
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