THE Davao City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) slapped stiffer charges against the two suspects arrested for abducting and killing businessman Ramon Teodoro Garcia last June 6.
Prosecutor Faizal Padate, in his resolution dated June 16, said that he had dropped the robbery homicide charges against respondents Jamora Liawan, alias Jan-Jan, 23, and his girlfriend Daisy Joy Supatan Cachapero, alias Angel, 27, in place of heavier penalties for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with homicide, carnapping, and theft.
"Respondents cannot be indicted for robbery with homicide considering that it is not certain where the victim was killed. It is possible that the victim may have been killed and robbed in cities and municipalities between Davao City and Malalag, Davao del Sur or the place where the cadaver of the victim and the vehicle of the victim were discovered," Padate's resolution read.
But the prosecutor found probable cause to charge the suspects with kidnapping and serious illegal detention with homicide based on the testimony of the witness identified as Jonabe Monredondo Ladag.
"From the statement of Ladag, it can be deduced that respondents, in conspiracy with each other, commandeered the vehicle of the victim thereby restraining his movement and holding him against his will. Thereafter they killed the victim," Padate said.
Other than the abduction charges, Padate also found sufficient evidence to charge the two for violation of the Republic Act (RA) 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 after the suspects took Garcia's Toyota Innova.
The victim's torched vehicle was later found in Barangay Nagpan in Malungon, Saranggani Province which was believed to be burned down by Liawan who was found to have burn marks on his arm.
The prosecutor also charged Liawan and Cachapero with theft after a string of police operations resulted to the recovery of the victim's belongings which were reportedly stashed at the house of Cachapero's mother in Sulop town in Davao del Sur.
Some of the victim's belongings were also recovered from Liawan while he allegedly pawned Garcia's jewelry at a pawnshop along C. M. Recto St.
The case is currently at the Regional Trial Court Office of the Clerk of Court (RTC-OCC) and is set to be raffled off to an RTC Branch tomorrow.