Dennis Roldan to ask CA to nullify conviction

The camp of actor and former Quezon City congressman Dennis Roldan will contest before the Court of Appeals (CA) a lower court's decision to convict him for kidnapping.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online on Thursday, Roldan's legal counsel, lawyer Orlando Salantandre Jr., said they have filed with the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 167 a notice of appeal indicating they will elevate the case to the CA.

"We filed a notice of appeal on Tuesday, and the RTC will elevate the records to the Court of Appeals," he said. "This may take time."

On August 26, Pasig City RTC Branch 167 Presiding Judge Rolando Mislang convicted Roldan and two others for the kidnapping of a Filipino-Chinese boy in 2005.

Roldan, whose real name is Mitchell Gumabao, was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or at least 30 years in prison, and was ordered  to pay P100,000 in civil indemnity, P100,000 for moral damages and another P100,000 for exemplary damages to the family of the kidnap victim.

After the hearing, Roldan and his co-accused were immediately brought to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

When asked on the condition of his client, Salantandre said: "Sa totoo lang, hindi ko pa siya nabibisita, family lang niya ang laging nandoon, but I know he's okay."

Roldan was arrested on Feb. 20, 2005 following a successful rescue of the kidnap victim in Cubao. He was then allowed to post bail of P500,000 after a year of detention at the Pasig City jail. —KBK, GMA News