A Manila court on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment two men who kidnapped a son of former vice-president Emmanuel Pelaez eight years ago.
Judge Manuel Barrios of the Manila Regional Trial Court found Rakman Abby and Isidoro Balcita III guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The two were also ordered by the judge to pay the victim, Enrique Fabella Pelaez, P1 million in moral damages and P200,000 for temperate damages.
In his 19-page decision, Barrios said Pelaez’s kidnappers should be penalized for “toying” with his life in order to extort hard-earned money of the former vice president’s family.
Pelaez, an investment banker and managing director of the Mindanao Development Bank (MDB), was held captive for 51 days starting Nov. 23, 2000.
The victim was on his way home to Malasag, Cagayan de Oro driving the bank's Toyota Tamaraw FX when abducted.
Among the suspects in the case was Faisal Marohombsar, a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander who headed the dreaded Pentagon kidnap gang.
Marohombsar was killed in an encounter with police and military elements in Cavite province in August 2002.
The other suspects were Mohammad Achmad, Ismael Marohombsar, Rukman Sultan, Macaumbao Marohom and Cairoden Marohombsar.
Achmad and Ismael died in detention while Sultan was dropped from the charge sheet after turning state witness.
Police investigations showed that Balcita, who was then MDB’s internal auditor, told Faisal’s group that “his wealthy friend” can pay a P1-million ransom. Balcita
provided the kidnappers the details about Pelaez’s routine.
The kidnap group demanded P100-million ransom, but Faisal ordered Sultan to kill Pelaez after receiving money from the family of the victim.
Sultan apparently became sympathetic of the victim and helped Pelaez escape.