4 get double death for kidnap of Gokongwei’s son-in-law

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas – Four men were convicted here yesterday and each meted two death sentences for the kidnapping of a son-in-law of business magnate John Gokongwei and for stealing his vehicle here five years ago.

Judge Voltaire Rosales of Regional Trial Court Branch 83 found Millano Muit, Sergio Pancho, Rolando Dequillo and Romeo Pancho guilty beyond reasonable doubt for car theft and the abduction of engineer Ignacio Earl Ong.

Ong, husband of Faith Go—kongwei, one of the elder Go—kongwei’s six children, managed the family-owned ILO Construction Co. He was killed in a shootout between his kidnappers and law enforcers.

In a 20-page decision, Rosales also ordered the four convicts to pay Ong’s heirs P50,000 in indemnity, P2.2 million in actual damages and P200,000 in moral damages, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.

The four will be transferred to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City this morning.

Defense counsel Rolando Javier, however, said he does not believe in Rosales’ decision, claiming that the judge "gave too much emphasis" on the testimony of accomplice-turned-state witness Joseph Ferraer.

Ferraer was earlier named as an accomplice in Ong’s kidnapping, but he later opted to turn state witness against the four convicts.

Ong was snatched at gunpoint in a project site of ILO Construction Co. in Barangay Darasa here on Dec. 2, 1997.

Ong’s kidnappers were about to bring him to Barangay Kaylaway in Nasugbu town aboard his Pajero, when police intercepted them at a checkpoint in Lipa City.

A shootout ensued, resulting in the death of Ong and four other kidnappers.

The convicts had denied the charges, alleging that the police tortured and forced them to sign prepared sworn statements.

Rosales, however, said their denials and alibis could not overturn Ferraer’s testimony on how the group planned and executed Ong’s kidnapping.

The judge also did not give credence to the suspects’ claims of torture. "If they have been tortured, they could have told their lawyers about it when they were allowed to be alone. They don’t even have medical certificates (to prove) the torture," he said.

Lawyer Frederick Young said the Ong family, whom he represented in the case, was relieved and grateful that justice was finally served.