Former congressman and actor Dennis Roldan, father to teen celebrities Marco and Michele Gumabao, has been found guilty of masterminding the kidnapping of a three-year-old Filipino-Chinese boy in 2005, an ANC report said.
 |
| TOP: Dennis Roldan, BOTTOM: Marco and Michele Gumabao |
Judge Rolando Mislang of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167 ruled that Roldan -- Mitchell Gumabao in real life -- and two of his companions, Rowena San Andres and Adrian Domingo, are guilty beyond reasonable doubt in the kidnap-for-ransom case.
The judge sentenced the three to reclusion perpetua. No parole was recommended for the three.
The judge also ordered the three to pay 100,000 pesos in civil indemnity, 100,000 pesos for moral damages and 100,000 pesos for exemplary damages to the family of the kidnap victim.
What went before?
In February 2005, a three-year old Chinese-Filipino boy, the son of a wealthy businessman, was kidnapped while on the way to school with his nanny at the AIC Gold Tower on Emerald Avenue in Pasig.
The kidnappers demanded P250 million in ransom for the boy, but the family tried to negotiate, saying they could not raise this massive amount.
After 11 days, the boy was rescued unharmed by members of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response Group (PACER) from a safehouse in Cubao.
Roldan was one of seven suspects arrested.
He was apprehended by PACER agents at his home in Filinvest II, Quezon City. He would later claim that the police tortured him.
Two of the suspects pointed to Roldan and his supposed girlfriend, Suzette Wang, as the alleged masterminds of the kidnapping.
Wang had been a friend of the boy's mother and was said to be the boy's baptismal godmother.
The group was charged with kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms that same year.
In July 2006, Roldan posted a bail of P500,000.
In her decision, Judge Agnes Reyes-Carpio of the Pasig Regional Trial Court said there was no clear proof that the evidence against Roldan was strong.
The family of the victim, as well as anti-crime groups, slammed the decision and accused the judge of being biased in his favor.
In January 2007, suspect Albert Pagdanganan, who accused Roldan of masterminding the kidnapping was killed in an anti-carjacking operation in Quezon City.
In August 2008, the kidnap victim himself, then 6 years old, positively identified Roldan as the "big boss" of his abductors. Two months later, the boy's father died in Benguet when his car fell into a 250-meter deep ravine and caught fire.
Wang's whereabouts are unclear. Roldan, on the other hand, became a full-time pastor soon after he posted bail.
Celebrity children
Michele Gumabao, fifth child of Roldan, is a former Filipino volleyball player and co-captain of the De La Salle University women's volleyball team, Lady Spikers.
On April 27, 2014, Michele entered the Pinoy Big Brother house as one of the celebrity housemates along with Jane Oineza, Alex Gonzaga and Daniel Matsunaga in its 11th season which features adults, teens and celebrities.
Roldan's son, actor Marco Gumabao, meanwhile, is casted in ABS-CBN's comedy series, Luv U.
Marco and Michele both used their personal Twitter account on Tuesday to express their support for their father.
Michele said:
“Your strength and love for God is what amazes me papa. I love you and I am proud of you!We will never stop fighting by your side. Trust God,”
Marco said:
“All in God's plan.”