Carjack gang leader convicted, gets 30 years

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – The regional trial court (RTC) here convicted yesterday carjack gang leader Raymond Dominguez and sentenced him to 17 to 30 years in prison.

This is the first conviction for Dominguez, who is facing 14 criminal charges in various courts, four of which have been dismissed.

In an 11-page decision penned by Judge Wilfredo Nieves of RTC Branch 84, Dominguez was found guilty of carjacking by means of force and violence upon person.

Penalized under Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, Dominguez was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years and four months to 30 years in prison.

The court, however, dismissed the robbery charges filed against Dominguez after the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The court also archived the charges against Dominguez’s unidentified accomplices who are at large.

The case stemmed from the carjacking in Marilao, Bulacan on Jan. 14, 2010 of a black Toyota Fortuner with license plate ZGW 872 worth P1.065 million that was stolen from Dante Escoto.

Escoto also complained that his laptop, necklace, cash and other jewelry worth P116,000 were stolen.

Based on his court testimony, Escoto said three men accosted him while he was about to purchase new car matting for his Fortuner that was registered under his company Crocodile Tape Co.

Two suspects confronted Escoto and hit him in the stomach. One of the suspects was later identified through police rogue photo gallery as Dominguez.

Dominguez was part of the notorious syndicate responsible for a spate of carjacking incidents that made headlines last year.

Other cases against Dominguez and his cohorts remain pending in other branches of the Malolos RTC.

Dominguez was immediately brought to the maximum-security compound at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after the promulgation at the Malolos RTC.

NBP Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf said Dominguez will not be detained in their Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC), where new NBP inmates are typically detained for 60 days.

“Considering that he is a high profile inmate, doon na naming siya agad nilagay sa maximum security compound,” he said, adding that Dominguez will be detained in Building I-B.

Schwarzkopf said the RDC is located in their medium security compound, wherein the perimeter fences are only barbed wires.

He added that they implemented the same procedure when former military comptroller Carlos Garcia was detained in the state penitentiary last year.

As part of the procedure, Dominguez will not be allowed to accept visitors during the five-day quarantine period. The RDC program, which include physical examination and  psychological and spiritual briefing, will last for 55 days.

Dominguez’s lawyer Jose Cruz said they would file an appeal before the Court of Appeals (CA) seeking to reverse the conviction.

“I think, we will have a better chance at the CA,” said Cruz, noting that the robbery charges against Dominguez were dismissed because the victim failed to identify the suspect.

Cruz also welcomed the transfer of Dominguez to the NBP in Muntinlupa City where his client will be safer.

Meanwhile, a jail guard escorting Raymond Dominguez lost his left index finger when his gun went off accidentally moments before left the Malolos court.

Witnesses said that BJMP guards were about to leave Malolos court when the service pistol of 25-year-old jail officer Legazpi Cabatcha accidentally fired. A bullet hit Cabatcha’s left index finger.

Court employees who heard the gun shot came out of their offices to find out what happened.

A court employee said he thought Dominguez was shot at. He said that last March, unidentified men ambushed the convoy of jail guards escorting Dominguez to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig after they attendeda a court hearing.

Cabatcha was treated at the Bulacan Medical Center. Malacañang welcomed the conviction of Dominguez.

“We congratulate Public Prosecutor Maureen Abad Moises for her capable handling of the case. Its resolution proves that with honest and committed public servants, our judicial system can work effectively toward fulfilling its duties to the public,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. With Aurea Calica, Aie Balagtas See