Prosecutor: No bail for OFW’s kidnapper

CEBU, Philippines - The city prosecutor’s office recommended no bail against one of the accused in the kidnapping of an overseas worker in Talisay City last Sunday.

State prosecutor Jenelyn Forrosuelo has found probable cause to hold Ronilo Roble, 42, a resident of Kalinaw 2, San Rafael, Talisay for trial in the kidnapping for ransom. Aside from the kidnapping for ransom he was also charged with carnapping for which P200,000 bail was recommended.

Roble was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation during the alleged payoff of the P50,000 ransom outside a private cemetery at the South Road Property. His companion, Wane Tiano, was killed during a shootout with the NBI agents while three others were able to elude arrest.

Roble’s alleged cohorts in the kidnapping of Reneboy Agraviador will be charged separately as soon as the required preliminary investigation is complied with. Among those facing the criminal complaint for kidnapping for ransom before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office is PO3 Lee Colina, a former member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Tiano and two unidentified persons.

The procedure requires the prosecutor to issue a subpoena to the respondents for them to answer the complaint within 10 days upon receipt. The prosecutor will then resolve the complaint with or without the counter-affidavit of the respondents. 

Colina was identified as the alleged leader of the kidnappers. He was  dismissed from the police service after he went on AWOL.

Agraviador’s live-in partner, Minerva Laborada, sought the assistance of the NBI on June 17, 2013 after her husband was allegedly kidnapped by five armed men along Rabaya Street.

The kidnappers demanded P50,000 ransom which payoff was scheduled last Monday outside Evergreen Cemetery in Barangay San Rafael. During the supposed payoff a shootout happened between the kidnappers and the NBI agents resulting in the arrest of Roble and the death of Tiano.

The kidnap victim was also rescued during the operation. (FREEMAN)