Back

People vs Michael Pagalasan 404 SCRA 275

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. MICHAEL U. PAGALASAN alias "Mike," RONNIE CABALO alias "Romy", ALADIN CABALO, FERDINAND CORTEZ, a JOHN DOE identified only as FERNANDO, and a PETER DOE identified only as "Bong," accused. / MICHAEL U. PAGALASAN alias "Mike," appellant.

G.R. Nos. 131926 & 138991 | 2003-06-18

D E C I S I O N

CALLEJO, SR., J.:

This is an automatic review of the Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court of General Santos City, Branch 35, convicting appellant Michael U. Pagalasan of two counts of kidnapping for ransom of George Lim and his 10-year-old son Christopher Neal Lim and sentencing him to double death.

The Antecedents

The Spouses George and Desiree Lim and their three young children, one of whom was 10-year-old Christopher Neal Lim, resided at Villa Consuelo Subdivision, General Santos City. The spouses hired a security guard, Ferdinand Cortez, from the Valiant Security Agency to provide security services to the family. On...