MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed criminal charges against two persons implicated in a kidnapping for ransom incident which resulted to the death of a policewoman and injury to several others in Quezon province.
In a nine-page resolution dated April 12, Assistant State Prosecutor Philip dela Cruz found probable cause to indict suspected kidnappers Glenn Taningco and Lalaine Barrios for kidnapping for ransom with homicide, frustrated multiple homicide, robbery and carnapping charges.
Investigation showed that two were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Ronaldo Arguelles in Candelaria, Quezon last April 9. The suspects reportedly took Arguelle’s valuables and personal belongings including cellular phones, laptop, gold necklace, bracelet, and used the victim’s vehicle as their getaway car.
They demanded PHP1-million ransom money but the amount was reduced to PHP800,000 after negotiation. The pay off was agreed to be at a mall in San Pablo, Laguna. However, before the pay off, a firefight with law enforcers, killing Police Officer 1 Ma. Zarah Jane Andal and wounding three other police officers.
After investigation, the police learned that the kidnappers rented a sports utility vehicle from victim. Police traced the address of Taningco’s house where he and Barrios were arrested.
“The voluntary statement of confession made by respondents Tangingco and Barrios in the presence of their counsel Atty. (Manuel) Go sufficiently established the elements of kidnapping charged against them,” read the DOJ resolution.
Barrios also corroborated the testimony of Taningco as well as identified Senior Police Officer 2 Leo Pamonag as the one who provided the firearms and police uniforms to the kidnappers.
“Respondents in the present case clearly conspired with each other as their concerted acts showed their complicity in the commission of the crime of kidnapping for ransom as their acts were directed in achieving their goal of kidnapping Ronaldo Arguelles,” resolution said.
The DOJ also recommended that other suspects in the case –Pamonag, Ricky Barrios, Camille Lesegues Bubudilla, Ricardo Arguelles and Joshua– to undergo preliminary investigation. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
