Six found guilty for abduction, murder of Korean national in 2014

 

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court has found six individuals guilty, after eleven years, for the abduction and murder of a Korean national in 2014.

Based on a 21-page decision by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24, promulgated on Feb. 18, Ronel Mongado, Rowel Mongado, Alex Buenaobra, Jimmy Manlapaz, and Sergio Balog were each found guilty with a penalty of reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole.

The five were also ordered to pay the heirs of the murdered Korean, Ji Won Lee, P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages, and P100,000 in exemplary damages.

Meanwhile, Jullie-Ann Traboco was likewise found guilty as an accessory to the crime and was sentenced to five to eight years in prison.

She was also ordered to pay the victim’s heirs P12,500 each for civil indemnity, moral, and exemplary damages.

The case stemmed from a kidnapping case on March 3, 2014, involving Ji, who was eventually killed.

Ji was held captive to extort an initial ransom of P10 million from her family, which was reduced to P3,000,000.00. Ji was killed during her detention.

It was Ji’s own brother who testified against the six convicted criminals in court, identifying the license plate number of the vehicle they used and its driver.

His testimony was then corroborated by a state witness who was part of the group that kidnapped Ji.

It was also the state witness who positively identified the five accused, also confirming that it was Buenaobra who ordered the killing of the victim.

“Culled from the evidence presented, all the foregoing elements of the crime were established in this case,” the RTC decision read.

“There is no dispute that all accused are private persons and they illegally kidnapped and deprived the victim, Ji Won Lee of her liberty for purposes of extorting ransom and thereafter was killed during detention,” it added.