Justice served, finally, for Korean KFR victim

DPWH ‘Top Contractor’ sued for ‘ghost receipts’

On Mar 17, 2025

File photo of Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. The DOJ chief praised the National Prosecution Service for securing the conviction of all suspects in the kidnap-slay of a woman Korean national after more than a decade of trial at a court in Manila.

DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, commended the public prosecutors who handled the kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) case of a Korean national that resulted to the conviction of the suspects after more than a decade of trial.

In a statement, the DOJ chief particularly cited Deputy State Prosecutor (DSP) Olivia L. Torrevillas and Assistant State Prosecutor (ASP) Gino Angelo P. Yanga of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) for their perseverance in securing the conviction of all the accused.

“This conviction is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our prosecutors and the formidable partnership with our law enforcement agencies to pursuing justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable,” he said.

The case involved the kidnapping of Korean national, Ji Won Lee, on March 3, 2014, by the suspects, Ronel Mongado y Seda, also known as “Butiki,” Rowel Mongado y Seda, also known as “Tata,” Alex Buenaobra, alias “Allan Fallion” or “Pogi,” Jimmy Manlapaz y Gabatin, and Sergio Natad y Balog, aka, “Daising.”

After her abduction, the suspects held Ji for ransom in the amount of P10 million but which was reduced to P3 million after negotiation by her family.

Although P17,000 was initially paid to the suspects, they opted to kill Jin before they were subsequently rounded up by the authorities.

In a 21-page decision of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24 promulgated last February 18, 2025, Judge Benedict D. Medina found the five accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced them to ‘reclusion perpetua’ (life sentence) without eligibility for parole.

Additionally, the accused were also ordered to pay the heirs of Ji a total of P300,000.00 each in civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages.

Meanwhile, their accomplice, Jullie-Ann Traboco y Tongga was found guilty as an accessory to the crime and sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of five years, ten months, and one day of prision correccional as minimum to eight years, eleven months, and one day of prision mayor as maximum.

Traboco was also ordered to pay the victim’s heirs P12,500.00 each for civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages.

The court is also expected to issue an ‘alias warrant’ against two more of the suspects, Rene Natad and one alias “Paks.”

DPWH top contractor sued

Meanwhile, Secretary Remulla made it known that he would not let pass any shenanigan in government transactions as he led the filing last Februaery 26, 2025 of eight criminal information against ‘Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation (Hilmarc), one of the country’s top government contractors before the Court of Tax Appeals.

The corporate logo of Hilmar’s, one of the country’s biggest contractors for public works projects posted in the Internet. The firm is now under criminal prosecution by the DOJ for ‘ghost receipts.’

The filing of the information was based on the complaint of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) after discovering the firm was engaged in anomalous transactions using ghost/fake receipts.

Hilmarc is among the country’s biggest contractors that has been bagging multi-billion public work projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the years.

It was tagged as the contractor of the controversial multi-billion Makati City Hall building project during the Noynoy Aquino administration involving the family of then Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Despite involvement in the controversy, Hilmarcs also ended up as the contractor for the new Senate Building that is yet to be completed located at the Bonifacio Global City.

Among those cited in the DOJ information before the CTA are the firm’s corporate officers, namely: Efren M. Canlas, Robert B. Henson, and Cristina Elisse F. Canlas for violation of Sections 254 (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax) and 255 (Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information) in relation to Sections 253(d) and 256 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Aside from criminal violations, Hilmarc’s also faces civil liabilities amounting to P176,363,285, in tax liabilities.

“Taken as a whole, this fraudulent act of using receipts from fake transactions resulted to billions of losses to the government,” Secretary Remulla said.

“More importantly, this is also a perfect opportunity to emphasize that government contractors are not in any way exempt from faithfully complying with their tax obligations,” he added.

Secretary Remulla said he is just waiting for the issuance of the warrant of arrest against the accused company officers before ordering their immediate apprehension.