The Department of Justice scores anew with the conviction of two notorious kidnappers for the kidnapping and murder of a sister of the owner of Uratex Philippines, her driver, and a police officer in 2001.
In the Informations filed against them, Rolando Villaver and Florante Concepcion were accused of kidnapping Connie Wong, manager of Uratex and sister of said company's owner; her driver Arcangel Barquilla; and P01 Dionisio Burca, Jr.; and demanding P50M from Wang's husband, Manuel, for their safe release.
The three were abducted by Villaver and Concepcion on October 1, 2001 at around 7:45 am while on the way to Wang's office in Quezon City. Due to Manuel's failure to produce P50M, the respondents proceeded to kill the victims but Barquilla luckily survived.
In a 32-page Decision, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court-Branch 81 found Villaver and Concepcion guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of kidnapping for ransom (KFR) with attendant circumstances of double murder and attempted murder and penalized them with reclusion perpetua. They were also ordered to indemnify jointly and severally the heirs of Wang and Burca a total of P175,000 as civil indemnity and damages. Further, they were ordered to pay jointly and severally the heirs of Wang P165,800 as actual damages and P433,333.33 as loss of earning capacity.
The two were also found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of carnapping with attendant circumstances of double murder and attempted murder and were sentenced to a penalty of life imprisonment.
Justice Secretary Emmanuel L. Caparas commended Assistant State Prosecutor Hjalmar Quintana, Jr. as well as the previous prosecutors who handled the case for securing the conviction on the same.