Five persons have been convicted by the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) of kidnap-for-ransom in the abduction of two children in 2013, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday, April 21.

The DOJ said those convicted were John Mark Tamalla, Jomel Tamalla, Bernard Pating, Ma. Theresa Licay and Ma. Andrea Branzuela.

“John Mark Tamalla, Jomel Tamalla, and Bernard Pating were found guilty of kidnapping for ransom and sentenced to reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole,” it said.

“Ma. Theresa Licay and Ma. Andrea Branzuela were convicted as accomplices and sentenced to 10 years and one day of prision mayor to 17 years and four months of reclusion temporal,” it also said.

At the same time, the DOJ said that those convicted were ordered “to jointly and severally pay the victims ₱100,000 each in civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages.”

The case involved the the abduction of two victims who were ages 10 and 15 in 2013 when they got kidnapped by armed men while aboard a vehicle along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City.

“A nationwide alarm filed by their mother helped authorities track down the vehicle in a related carnapping case, which led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the victims. No ransom was paid,” the DOJ said.

On the other hand, two other accused in the case remain at large and were identified as Rogel Domingo Jr. and Ephraim John Evangelista, it also said.

Another accused, identified as Resty Branzuela, had already died and, because of this, the RTC dismissed the case against him, it added.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said "this outcome reinforces the importance of thorough investigation and sustained case build up."

“The system is working, and accountability is what we strive for,” he also said.