Dennis Roldan gets life for kidnapping boy

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — The Pasig City Regional Trial Court on Tuesday found actor and former Quezon City representative Dennis Roldan guilty of kidnapping a three-year-old boy in 2005.

Presiding judge Rolando Mislang of local court's Branch 167 ordered Roldan's immediate incarceration at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlipa City. He has been out on bail since he was charged nine years ago.

Life imprisonment was imposed on Roldan, whose real name is Mitchell Gumabao, and co-accused Adrian Domingo for abducting the Filipino-Chinese boy.

The cases against Roldan's co-accused San Andres and Romeo Orcajada meanwhile, were terminated due to their death before Tuesday's decision.

Suzette Wang, alleged co-conspirator in the abduction, was also ordered arrested.

In media interviews following the kidnapping, Roldan, who is also a Christian minister, had denied the charges, saying he was mistaken for another suspect.

A witness from a telecommunications company, however, testified that Roldan's mobile phone contained messages from the victim's mother pleading the kidnappers to accept the P2.6-million ransom as they would not be able to raise the P200-million ransom demand.

Roldan recently starred in GMA Network's "My Destiny" series, which premiered last June.