PNP lauds conviction of ex-cops for kidnap

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) lauded the conviction of eight persons, including two former policemen, who kidnapped a Chinese-Filipino woman 17 years ago.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 225 on Friday meted life imprisonment terms without eligibility of parole to ex-policemen Romeo Ayson and Clayton Patingan, Jose Olbato, Jaime Tolevas, Edwin Castillo, Romeo Aruta, Sebastian Magaipo and Alberto Culanag.

Branch 225 Judge Maria Luisa Lesle Gonzales-Betic found the eight guilty of kidnapping Genevieve Sy in Sta. Cruz, Manila in March 2004.

Betic gave the convicts’ lawyers 15 days to appeal the ruling.

“Although it took 17 years for the case to reach its logical conclusion, what is more important is that justice prevailed eventually and the criminals have been put away,” PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar, who was then a field grade officer of the defunct Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), testified as a prosecution witness.

He was among the police officers who investigated the case and the police officers who rescued Sy from a safehouse in Antipolo City.

Patingan and Ayson were former members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. They were among the 15 people arrested by lawmen in connection with Sy’s kidnapping.

The court acquitted Lolita Monares and Pepe Bihag for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Four other accused, Mary Ann Angcahan, Julien Madrid, Janeth Patilona, Clifftor Langcao and Eric Pa-o, were released in 2016 after they obtained a plea bargaining agreement.

Two other suspects in the kidnapping, Vina Argayoza and Yong Yong Mentis, remain at large.

The Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), also lauded the court’s ruling after years of trial.

“We are happy that finally, the malefactors have been meted the penalty of reclusion perpetua,” the MRPO said in a statement.

Sy was kidnapped while driving her car along Severino street, where her captors took her jewelry, cash and personal belongings.

She was brought to a safehouse in Quezon City and was transferred to Antipolo City. The kidnappers demanded P500,000 in ransom money from Sy’s family.