7 get life for kidnap of elderly woman

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City court has convicted seven people for kidnapping a 78-year-old Filipino-Chinese woman whose family paid P8.1 million in ransom for her release in 2025, the Department of Justice said yesterday.

According to the DOJ, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 225 found the accused guilty of kidnapping for ransom. They were sentenced to life in prison, without eligibility for parole.

In a June 30 decision, the court ordered each accused to pay the complainant civil, moral and exemplary damages.

The kidnappers had demanded P500 million for the victim’s release, but it was reduced to P8.1 million after negotiations.

Despite payment of ransom on Sept. 7, 2025, the kidnappers held the victim captive until she was rescued by the police Anti-Kidnapping Group four days later.

Four others were acquitted by the court after “their guilt was not established beyond reasonable doubt.”

Court records showed that the woman was kidnapped at the corner of Biak na Bato and N.S. Amoranto streets in Quezon City on Sept. 2, 2025.

She was brought to Bacoor City in Cavite and in Batangas.

The DOJ did not disclose the names of the accused. No reason was given for not identifying the convicted kidnappers.