7 accused convicted of kidnapping 78-year-old businesswoman

MANILA, Philippines—Seven people out of 11 accused in the kidnapping of a 78-year-old businesswoman in Quezon City have been convicted by a court after less than a year in trial.

“In just nine months, we were able to get the conviction of seven kidnappers, including the mastermind and former military men,” said Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a statement on Wednesday.

A Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Tuesday sentenced seven of the arrested suspects to reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole.

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Meanwhile, four others who acted as aides and caretakers were acquitted after prosecutors failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

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“This case is proof not only of good planning and conduct of operations, but also efficient case build-up,” said Nartatez.

The case stemmed from the September 2, 2025 abduction of a 78-year-old businesswoman along C3 Road in Quezon City.

Her family, which is engaged in large-scale manufacturing, was later ordered to pay a P150 million ransom for her release.

The breakthrough came when the kidnappers escorted the victim to a bank in Quezon City to withdraw P8 million.

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This prompted police to launch a rescue operation that freed the victim, and led to the arrest of three suspects on September 11, 2025.

Read: Bank’s 911 call leads to rescue of kidnap victim in Quezon City

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Eight additional suspects, including former military personnel, were later apprehended in follow-up operations.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Edwin Balles, acting director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, said they launched follow-up and hot pursuit operations in various areas, including Bulacan, Cavite and Metro Manila.

Balles said the suspects deceived the victim by working in the household as employees, pretending to be the victim’s security guard and driver.

“Gathering documentary, testimonial, digital and forensic evidence was a challenging process,” Balles said.

“Those pieces of evidence proved crucial in securing the conviction and ensuring the successful prosecution of the case,” he added.

Nartatez said that coordination with the Department of Justice in the case is “concrete evidence of what we can achieve in maintaining peace and order through certainty of conviction of those who would dare break the law.” /apl

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