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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ: 'No mercy' on 3 persons arrested for abduction, killing of 4 of 6 Chinese in 2023

DOJ: 'No mercy' on 3 persons arrested for abduction, killing of 4 of 6 Chinese in 2023

Published Feb 29, 2024 05:44 am

The Department of Justice (DOJ) declared on Thursday, Feb. 29, it will show no mercy on three persons arrested for the killing of four of six Chinese nationals who were kidnapped in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City in 2023.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla issued his statement after DOJ prosecutors came out last Feb. 19 a resolution to charge in court Edgar Catapang Abarca, Eduardo Catapang Abarca and John Oliver Villanueva  who is also known as Carlo Acero Villanueva.

"Assure airtight cases are filed and show no mercy in prosecuting those behind these senseless crimes. Let’s bring to justice those responsible for these crimes,” Remulla told the prosecutors.

The DOJ's panel of prosecutors has ruled that “three people identified as Edgar Catapang Abarca, Eduardo Catapang Abarca and John Oliver Villanueva aka Carlo Acero Villanueva are all to be charged before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) with four counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with homicide, four counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, one count of slight illegal detention, and one count of carnapping.”

The resolution was issued after conducting preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) Luzon Field Unit (PNP-AKG) last Dec. 29.

The complaint arose from the abduction of nine persons including six Chinese and three Filipinos in Muntinlupa City on Oct. 30, 2023.

Citing the complaint, the DOJ said the three Filipinos immediately reported the kidnapping incident to the police after being released by the suspects in Calauan, Laguna a day after the abduction.

The DOJ said the reporting of the incident led to a series of police operations.

“Unfortunately, only the remains of four of the six Chinese nationals were recovered while the remaining two are still missing up to this date,” it said.

“After backtracking and reviewing available CCTV (closed circuit television camera) footage, the police were able to trackdown the perpetrators which subsequently led to their arrest and the filing of the cases,” it also said. 

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