CAGAYAN DE ORO, PHILIPPINES — In a landmark ruling, the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Cagayan de Oro City has found five former policemen guilty of the kidnapping of Enrique “Eking” Fernandez III.
The court sentenced Police Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez, SP02 Jojo Lim, SP02 Alaindelon Tacubao, PO2 Sangkulan Hussien II, and P02 Alejandro Ubanan to Reclusion Perpetua, or life imprisonment, for their involvement in an OFW kidnapping case in 2016.
CCTV footage presented in court showed the five accused abducting Fernandez outside Uptown Condotel on October 23, 2016.
“The Court finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping defined and punishable in Article 267 of the Revised Criminal Code, as modified by Republic Act 7659, and sentences each accused the punishment of reclusion perpetua,” part of the 27-page decision declared.
In addition, the court ordered them to jointly and severally pay P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, P100,000 in exemplary damages, P100,000 in modest damages, and P50,000 in temperate damages to the Fernandez heirs, as well as the expense of the lawsuit.
The court also stated, “From the date of the finality of the ruling until complete satisfaction, all the sums owing shall bear lawful interest at the rate of six percent per annum.”
According to the court, the time spent in custody at the provincial jail in Misamis Oriental, the city jail in Cagayan de Oro, and the city jail in Lumbia will all count toward the completion of their sentences.
However, according to a post from iFM CDO, the accused were acquitted on the charge of carnapping. Additionally, Federico Guevarra and Rolando Udasco, who were alleged accomplices in the kidnapping, were also acquitted due to reasonable doubt. – WhatALife!/Jayve
Watch the CCTV footage below.
–WhatALife/Jayve
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