5 get life for kidnap of 2 Tsinoys, driver

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Five men accused of kidnapping two Filipino-Chinese siblings and their driver nine years ago were meted life imprisonment by a regional trial court (RTC) judge here yesterday. 

A sixth accused, however, was acquitted for lack of evidence.

The conviction may have taken some time, but one of the victims said it was just proper, while Teresita Ang-See, an anti-crime advocate, said it should serve as a warning to other kidnappers.

In a 15-page decision, Judge Basilio Gabo of RTC Branch 11 here found Antonino Adriano, Wilfredo Flores, Reynaldo Villesis, Geraldo Bautista and Nilo Solis guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the kidnapping charges.

The accused were sentenced to life imprisonment and to jointly pay private complainant Jessica Co-Ang the sum of P2.5 million.

Cleared of the charges was one Gary Bautista.

Co-Ang was present during the promulgation. She was joined by Ang-See of the Movement for Restoration for Peace and Order and the Citizen Action Against Crime. 

In an interview, Co-Ang told The STAR that they waited for nine years for the verdict.

“It’s just proper and I’m happy with the decision,” she said, adding that aside from the ordeal she suffered during her kidnapping, she also had to cope with threats in the early stage of the case. 

Co-Ang, together with her brother Jansen Co and driver Eusebio Cawili, was snatched at gunpoint in Novaliches, Quezon City on Sept. 1, 2001.

They were held captive for seven days as their kidnappers negotiated a P2.5-million ransom from Co-Ang’s husband Sammy. 

The payoff was subsequently made on Sept. 7, 2001 along the North Luzon Expressway.

For her part, Ang-See commended Co-Ang’s courage that kept her through the nine years of waiting for the conclusion of the case.

“I have to commend her for her courage because other victims of (kidnappings) used to just keep their silence, but Jessica fought it head on,” she said. 

Ang-See noted that some kidnap victims just choose to keep mum as the prosecution may really be expensive.

“Kung minsan mas malaki ang magagastos mo sa kaso kaysa sa ransom na hiningi (Sometimes you have to spend a bigger amount for the case than the ransom that was asked),” she said.

Ang-See said the verdict should serve as a warning and lesson to other kidnapping gangs out there. 

“They should know that there are people who are ready to file charges against them and they will be imprisoned,” she said. 

For his part, lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado said he was disappointed with the decision.

“I’m very disappointed, we’re expecting at least four acquittals today,” Jurado said. 

He said the decision would undergo automatic review by the Supreme Court, but former provincial prosecutor Amando Vicente, Co-Ang’s legal counsel, explained that only a death verdict is subject to the SC’s automatic review. 

“We no longer have death penalty, so the defense has to file a motion to the SC for review,” Vicente said.