The corpus delicti in the crime of kidnapping for ransom is the fact that an individual has been in any manner deprived of his liberty for the purpose of extorting ransom from the victim or any other person. Whether or not the ransom is actually paid to or received by the perpetrators is of no moment. In People vs. Salimbago, the Court stressed: “x x x No specific form of ransom is required to consummate the felony of kidnapping for ransom so long as it was intended as a bargaining chip in exchange for the victim’s freedom. In municipal criminal law, ransom refers to the money, price or consideration paid or demanded for redemption of a captured person or persons, a payment that releases from captivity.” It may include benefits not necessarily pecuniary which may accrue to the kidnapper as a condition for the victim’s release. The amount of and purpose for the ransom is immaterial. (People vs. Castro, G.R. No. 132726, 23 July 2002, 385 SCRA 24 People vs. Ejandra, G.R. No. 134203, 27 May 2004, 429 SCRA 364 People vs. Mamantak, G.R. 174659, 28 July 2008)
