5 get life for 2014 kidnap-slay of Korean

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court has sentenced five men to life in prison for the kidnapping and killing of female South Korean Lee Ji Won in 2014.

Ronel Mongado, Rowel Mongado, Alex Buenaobra, Jimmy Manlapaz and Sergio Natad were convicted of kidnapping for ransom and homicide by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24 Judge John Benedict Medina.

The five are not eligible for parole, according to the Department of Justice.

Another defendant, Julie Ann Traboco, was sentenced to five to 11 years as an accessory to the kidnapping.

Defendant Rene Natad was reportedly killed in an encounter, but the court noted the absence of any supporting documents regarding his death. Another suspect, an alias “Paks” is at large.

Lee was kidnapped on the night of March 3, 2014. She was last seen boarding a white taxi cab from Burgundy Transpacific Place along Taft Avenue to go to a meeting in Malate, Manila.

At around midnight, Lee’s brother, Lee Guk Hyun, received a call from his sister who was crying and said she was kidnapped. He then heard a male voice who told him that he had to prepare money for his sister.

The brother sought assistance from the South Korean embassy and Philippine National Police.

The kidnappers demanded ransom for the victim’s release three times. They initially demanded P10 million, which was later reduced to P3 million.

During brief meet-ups, Lee Guk Hyun delivered a total of P17,000 to the kidnappers. But the suspects never brought his sister to their meetings.

Authorities were able to tail one of the kidnappers after one of the meetings.

It was later learned that the victim was brought to the house of Joseph Armesin in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, where she was subsequently killed. Her body was reportedly thrown into a septic tank.

Armesin turned state witness.

In October 2016, South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was also kidnapped for ransom by members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and executed in his car at Camp Crame. Former DEG official Rafael Dumlao, convicted as the brains, is at large.