PHILIPPINES: SC AFFIRMS COMMUTATION OF FOUR DEATH SENTENCES

the Supreme Court of the Philippines affirmed the commutation of the death sentences of Millano Muit, Sergio Pancho Jr., Rolando Dequillo, and Romeo Pancho, who kidnapped Engr. Ignacio Earl Ong, son-in-law of businessman John Gokongwei. Ong was killed when his abductors engaged law enforcers in a shootout in 1997. In a decision written by Justice Dante O. Tinga, the SC said the Court of Appeals was correct in commuting the death penalty to life sentences without the eligibility for parole, since the death penalty had been removed by Republic Act (RA) No. 9346. Ong was kidnapped on December 2, 1997, in Darasa, Tanauan City, Batangas while he was inspecting a construction project in the area. In affirming the trial court’s decision that convicted Muit and his group of kidnapping for ransom and carnapping, the CA said the prosecution was able to prove the commission of the crimes with the help of Joseph Ferrer, an accused who turned state witness. The trial court also directed Muit and his group to pay the heirs of Ong R2.2 million in actual damages, R50,000 in indemnity, and R200,000 in moral damages.