BAGUIO CITY – Seven persons were sentenced to 40 years imprisonment after being found guilty of kidnapping-for-ransom with homicide 14 years ago in this city.
Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 60 Judge Maria Ligaya V. Itliong convicted accused Paul Sumbad, Reymond Dulaycan, Gastrol Sarol, Jason Ling-lingan, Roger Agtulao, Cromwell Filog, and Danny Palapag after they were arrested for kidnapping and killing Senly Loy, a prominent businessman in Baguio and Benguet in 2004.
In a 29-page decision penned on Dec. 21, the judge also ordered the accused to pay the heirs of the victim P800,680 as actual damages; P70,000 as civil indemnity, and P200,000 for moral damages.
The two other accused – Eddie Bagni and Jefferson Ab-aboy who were used as state witnesses after admitting the crime – were spared from the sentence.
Loy was kidnapped on March 18, 2004 at Dizon Subdivision, here. On May 17, 2004 or two months after he was taken by the assailants, his burnt body was found by National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force operatives in Barangay Abiang, Atok, Benguet.
Records show that 41 days after he was snatched, the kidnappers communicated with his family demanding a P10-million ransom, which was reduced to P500,000 during negotiations.
The testimonies of the state witnesses were used by the court as basis in pursuing the case against the seven other accused. (Zaldy Comanda)