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UPDATED MANILA, Philippines — After 12 years, the Dominguez carjack syndicate members were found guilty of killing car dealer Venson Evangelista.
According to Assistant City Prosecutor Raphael Joseph Seares, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215 convicted Roger Dominguez, Jason Miranda, and Rolando Talban for car theft with homicide and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua – which entails a minimum of 20 years and a day, and a maximum of 40 years jail time – without eligibility for parole.
WHAT WENT BEFORE: VENSON EVANGELISTA CASE
“We praise the decision of the honorable court, the Regional Trial Court Branch 215 presided by Judge Rafael G. Hipolito. Tama lang po ‘yung pagkaka-convict doon sa mga accused dito sa kaso na ito, na sina Roger Dominguez, Jason Miranda, at si Rolando Talban. Napatunayan po natin na sila po ay guilty beyond reasonable doubt sa crime na, special complex crime na carnapping with homicide kaugnay sa pagpatay kay Venson Evangelista last January 13, 2011,” Seares told INQUIRER.net over the phone on Wednesday.
(We praise the decision of the honorable court, the Regional Trial Court branch 215, presided by Judge Rafael G. Hipolito. It is just right to convict the accused in the case, Roger Dominguez, Jason Miranda, and Rolando Talban. We proved that they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the special complex crime of carnapping with homicide in relation to the killing of Venson Evangelista last January 13, 2011.)
According to the court decision released by Evangelista’s kin on Thursday, the court found that elements of premeditation, treachery, and abuse of power were present in the case. The judge determined that Dominguez and the other two planned the crime and executed it by outnumbering and overpowering Evangelista, who was alone when he was killed.
Hipolito also ordered Dominguez, Miranda, and Talban to jointly and severally pay the victim’s heirs in damages: P100,000 for civil indemnity, P100,000 for moral damages, P100,000 for exemplary damages, and P50,000 for temperate damages.
Arsenio Evangelista, Venson’s father, and president of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, told INQUIRER.net in a message that Dominguez, Miranda, and Talban are all in police custody and are awaiting to be transferred to New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Evangelista went missing in 2011 after men took one of his cars for a test drive. His charred body was later found in Cabanatuan City.
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