DOJ orders raps vs 2 suspects in Quezon kidnapping

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the filing of criminal charges against two people involved in a kidnapping for ransom incident as well as the death of a policewoman and injuring several others.

Ordered charged for kidnapping for ransom with homicide, frustrated multiple homicide, robbery and carnapping are Glenn Taningco and Lalaine Barrios.

On the other hand, the DOJ will conduct a preliminary investigation against the alleged mastermind, Senior Police Officer 2 Leo Pamonag, after signing a waiver of detention under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code.

They were involved in the kidnapping of a certain Ronaldo Arguelles in Candelaria, Quezon last April 9. They took three cellular phones, laptop, gold necklace, bracelet, earing, ring, three watches, East West Bank passbook, gold money with an estimate worth of P50,000 and used the victim’s vehicle as their getaway car.

They demanded P1 million ransom money but the amount was lowered to P800,000 after negotiation. The pay off was agreed to be at a mall in San Pablo, Laguna. However, before the pay off, a fire fight ensured where Police Officer 1 Ma. Zarah Jane Andal was killed and three other police officers were wounded.

After investigation, the police learned that the kidnappers rented a sports utility vehicle to the victim’s house and traced the address of one of the suspects—Taningco. The police went to Taningco’s house and he immediately surrendered and identified his co-conspirators, including Barrios.

Barrios also corroborated the testimony of Taningco, as well as identified 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,” read the resolution written by Assistant State Prosecutor Phillip L. Dela Cruz which was affirmed by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon and approved by acting Prosecutor General Jorge G. Catalan Jr.

On the other hand, the charge for robbery was for using violence when they took the valuables from the house of Arguelles, while the homicide and frustrated homicides were for the death of a police officer and injuries sustained by three others.

Because only two were arrested during the police operations, the DOJ in its resolution said it will issue a subpoena to the other people identified by Taningco and Lalaine Barrios, namely Ricky Barrios, Camille Lesegues Bubudilla, Ricardo Arguelles alias Boyet, and Joshua Magbanua. /je