|
Friday, March 04, 2005
Former congressman charged with kidnapping
By Benjamin B. Pulta
MANILA -- Prosecutors filed kidnapping charges Thursday against a former congressman and actor accused of plotting the abduction of a 3-year-old boy early last month.
A panel of prosecutors led by State Prosecutor Pablo Formaran III charged Dennis Roldan (born Mitchell Yap Gumabao) with kidnapping for ransom, citing an alleged confession by one of the former congressman's six co-accused.
Kidnapping for ransom is a heinous crime penalized with death by lethal injection under Philippine law.
Prosecutors said the former congressman from suburban Quezon City masterminded the February 9 kidnapping. They said the kidnappers allegedly demanded P250 million in ransom.
The filing of the charges came a day after Roldan, through lawyer Siegfrid Fortun, lodged a habeas corpus petition before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court questioning the former congressman's continued detention.
Prosecutors described the petition as improper, saying Roldan had signed a "waiver of detention" through another lawyer, Salvador Panelo.
Roldan's lawyer, however, sought the withdrawal of the waiver of detention prompting the prosecutors to file the case before the court.
In an internal resolution approved by Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors, which became the basis for the filing of the charges against Roldan, state lawyers said "the net effect of the withdrawal by respondent Gumabao (Roldan) of his waiver is that, as to him the proceedings revert to being an inquest, where upon determination of the sufficiency of the complaint, the inquest prosecutor should immediately file the case in court."
Among the witnesses listed by the prosecutor in the charge sheet was the testimony of a certain Roger and Jennie Yu as well as officers of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (Pacer).
Formaran said Roldan may still insist on a preliminary investigation before the court where the case was filed.
The prosecutors said much of their case is based on the testimony of a co-accused, Alberto Pagdanganan, as well statements from Pacer agents.
Acting on a tip while investigating the kidnapping, police rescued the abducted 3-year-old boy from an apartment in Cubao, Quezon City last February 18.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Roldan, East Kamias barangay chairman Octavio Garces, Adrian Domingo, Alberto Pagdanganan, Noel San Andres, Rowena Prado, and Romeo Orcajada.
Roldan's alleged girlfriend, Suzette Huang, has sent feelers to become a state witness, a move being opposed by anti-crime groups.
The charge sheet said Roldan's group originally demanded P250 million for the child's release.
Roldan has denied any involvement in the kidnapping, and one of his lawyers has questioned the validity of the confession of the alleged kidnapper who pointed to the former actor's involvement.
Roldan may ask for a new investigation of the charges, which the court could grant.
The justice department did not recommend bail for Roldan since kidnapping for ransom is a capital offense. (With AP)
(March 4, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Pawnshop loses P1M in burglary