The verdict
A Pasig Regional Trial Court ruled that Roldan and two of his co-accused were guilty of kidnapping a Chinese-Filipino boy in February 2005.
Roldan, whose real name is Mitchell Gumabao, was arrested in 2005. He posted bail of half a million pesos more than a year later, but three other co-accused remained in jail after their arrest.
Roldan's lawyer says he will appeal the verdict.
'Unexpected' outcome
Roldan said he did not expect the court's decision. He questions why the judge who decided on the case was not the same judge who heard it.
"I have nothing against him, but wala siyang demeanor nung kaso. Hindi niya nakita. Hindi niya napanood. Magre-rely lang siya sa transcript. Pagkatapos nung na-raffle ito, in one month's time, nag-hearing kami for seven years, tapos in one month's time, I just couldn't imagine na nabasa niya lahat nung pinag-hearing-an namin and nakapag-comeup siya ng decision," he said.
He also asked why his other co-accused, Octavio Garces, was acquitted.
"Okay lang naman kung ma-acquit si Garces, pero nakapagtaka lang ang judicial system natin. Yung umamin na-acquitted and then yung wala namang ebidensiya, na laban sa akin, ako naman yung guilty," Roldan stated.
Roldan and the other co-accused will be brought to New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Flashback: The case history
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 a ransom of P250 million for the boy.
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 Harvard, Cubao.
Roldan was one of seven suspects in the kidnapping.
He was apprehended by PACER agents at his home in Filinvest II, Quezon City. He later claimed that they 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 godmother.
The group was charged with kidnapping for ransom and illegal possession of firearms that same year.
In July 2006, Roldan posted bail of half a million pesos.
In her decision, Judge Agnes Reyes-Carpio of the Pasig Regional Trial Court said there was no clear proof that the evidence of Roldan's guilt was strong.
The family of the victim, as well as anti-crime groups, alammed the decision accusing the judge of being biased in his favor.
In January 2007, 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 already six 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.
And Roldan, who became a full-time pastor soon after he posted bail claims to have turned over a new leaf.
After hearing today's verdict, he even says there must be a higher purpose for it all.
"Siguro mayroon pang kailangan i-ayos si Lord sa akin, you know. I think everything has a purpose eh. So hindi ko alam kung anong gusto niyang gawin ko muna doon sa Muntinlupa. Baka naman kasama iyon sa kasaysayan ng buhay ko. Kasama yan sa magiging testimony natin and dadaanan natin yan. Yun ang gusto ni Lord e. Yan ang divine will ng Diyos," Roldan said.
A daughter's support
Meanwhile, Roldan's daughter, Michele Gumabao, posted a message of support for him on her Twitter page.
Michele—who gained fame as a volleyball player for De La Salle University team—was part of the most recent Pinoy Big Brother installment. She was evicted on Day 57.
Landmark victory
But while Roldan and his family are shocked by his conviction, there are groups who see it as a milestone.
Anti-kidnapping advocates hail Roldan's conviction as a landmark victory for kidnap-for-ransom cases in the country.
Teresita Ang-See, the founding chair of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order said they saw the case through despite alleged attempts to influence the judges and fears of retaliation.
"Benchmark namin ito. Dennis Roldan is a powerful figure with connections. Kidnap for ransom is non bailable, but gumamit siya ng impluwensya. We proved it beyond any doubt. The significance of this case show our victims that it pays to fight back. Kidnapping will continue to be a perfect crime if you do not fight back and just pay ransom and you don't file cases," Ang-See emphasized.
source: ANC
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