PNP-AKG men’s testimony leads to conviction of Mindanao kidnapper
TESTIMONIES made by a kidnap-for-ransom victim and his rescuers from the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) in Mindanao in 2014 has led to the conviction of a woman arrested for the same case last October 16, PNP-AKG OIC Brig. Gen. Roel C. Rodolfo said yesterday.
The official said that Judge Paolo R. Aquino of the General Santos City Regional Trial Court Branch 59 found Emily Pedtucasan alias “Tata/Princess Montilla/Sheika Malang Nalaunan” guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of kidnapping-for-ransom as defined and penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.
The General Santos City court sentenced the accused, who is already detained at the General Santos City Jail, to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole and at the same time ordered her to pay a total of P705,000 in civil, moral, exemplary and actual damages, Brig. Gen. Rodolfo reported to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil.
Judge Aquino also issued a warrant of arrest, with no bail recommended, for the 10 co-accused of the convicted woman who all remained at-large.
Those being hunted as of press time in connection with the said kidnapping-for-ransom case are Saudi Kasan alias “Kumander Rainbow,” one Kamad Sacop alias “Kumander Datu Roy,” a certain “Kumander Marlboro,” a certain “Kumander Mike,” an alias “Kumander Bapa Teng,” one alias “Usop,” a certain “Pulis” and three other John Does.
“The prosecution has indeed proven beyond reasonable doubt that Pedtucasan/Montilla was among those in conspiracy in kidnapping the victim.
Pedtucasan/Montilla may not be the one who detained the victim, she was however, no doubt the very person who delivered the victim to the other accused, which could verily evince a common purpose or design for the crime of kidnap for ransom,” the General Santos City judge said.
“She may be considered a principal by direct participation in all aspects or if not, she may be treated as principal by indispensable cooperation,” he added.
The Department of Justice Task Force on Kidnapping-for-Ransom recommended the filing of the criminal action against the accused in connection with the kidnapping of businessman Elpidio Patugan on General Santos City national highway on September 18, 2014.
The suspects were accused of ‘conspiring, confederating and mutually helping one another, with threats and intimidation through the use of firearms, to unlawfully and feloniously take Patugan of his liberty against his will for the purpose of extorting money,” said the DOJ anti-kidnapping prosecutors who were also given huge credits by the PNP-AKG for their latest kidnapping conviction.
Records showed that the kidnappers demanded a P15 million ransom money in exchange for the safe release of the victim. Through a series of negotiations, the kidnappers managed to get P405,000 from the victim’s family.
