WAS he kidnapped or just on a “furlough”?
Authorities are puzzled by the disappearance of road rage convict Rolito Go at the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that Go, convicted of killing engineering student Eldon Maguan in 1991, was discovered missing during a headcount on Tuesday night.
“A search was immediately conducted within the NBP . . . Futile ‘yung search. He was last seen doon sa [at the vicinity of] Ina ng Awa Church located inside the reservation kasi doon daw palagi dini-dressing [it is where his wound is dressed]. ‘Di ba may surgical wound itong si Rolito Go [He has surgical wound, right]?” she said.
Go, who is a “living-out prisoner,” has been in prison for 18 years and is suffering from colon cancer. A “living-out prisoner” is one who is sick or is over 70 years old, and those serving a minimum penalty of less than six years.
De Lima said that Clemence Yu, a nurse, also went missing with Go. Their relatives claimed that Go and Yu were both able to speak to them over the phone and told them that they were abducted. The relatives said that the kidnappers demanded a P1-million ransom.
Because of the incident, de Lima ordered National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nonnatus Rojas to look into the matter, while the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) and the Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were ordered to validate the incident and seek Go’s return.
According to the Justice chief, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gaudencio Pangilinan has sought the help of the PNP-CIDG.
De Lima said that she would not easily buy the “kidnapping” story and insinuated that there could have been a deeper and more sinister agenda behind the convict’s departure.
“You can never tell. So tinitingnan namin yun. Nakakagulat naman itong scenario na ito, nakakagulat na naman itong occurrence na ito. Ano na naman ba ito? Totohanan ba yan o hindi o pakana lang ni Rolito Go o pakana ng ibang tao [We are looking at it. This scenario or occurrence is surprising. Is this for real? Was this planned by Rolito Go or other people?]” de Lima said.
Incompetence
At Malacañang, President Benigno Aquino 3rd ordered the Justice department to investigate how Go could have escaped or could have been abducted from the NBP.
Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that Pangilinan will be included in the investigation for possible incompetence.
“There has been a claim, allegations previously against NBP director Pangilinan. Well, number one, insofar as Rolito Go’s disappearance is concerned, that’s going to be investigated. We are not jumping into the culpability, if any, of any particular official. That is precisely being investigated,” Lacierda told reporters.
“But right now, what is important is that we go to the bottom of this. How was Mr. Rolito Go not be accounted for during the head tap—what they call the headcount last night—and also to investigate allegations that he was abducted. Those things are being validated right now, investigated by the NBI,” he said.
Because of his age and illness, Go enjoys a “living out” status, meaning he could roam around the NBP facility provided he reports during head counts.
“He usually stays at the Ina ng Awa Church where he is accompanied by a private nurse,” Lacierda said.
At the Senate, Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan said that prison officials should explain how Go was able to vanish. He also doubted if Go was kidnapped.
“Papaano ka naman kikidnapin sa loob ng [How could a prisoner be kidnapped inside the] National Penitentiary?” he asked.
He said that he may call for an inquiry if NBP officials fail to explain Go’s disappearance.
Lead
For his part, PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome on Wednesday said that he has already tasked the AKG and CIDG to look into the case of Go.
“The PNP is validating reports that Rolito Go was kidnapped and the AKG and CIDG will take lead in this case,” Bartolome told reporters.
But the PNP chief would not say if Go was kidnapped or if he is a missing prisoner.
“This kind of report of kidnapping is the task of the AKG and they will assess if there was such an incident while the missing case is with the CIDG,” Bartolome said.
Nevertheless, the PNP chief said that they have already issued instructions to all of their field units, especially in Metro Manila and outlying regions, to help locate the whereabouts of Go.
“The PNP is always ready to help and I have issued instructions to our field units to help in locating Mr. Go,” Bartolome said.
Not the first time
It was not the first time that Go went missing.
On November 1, 1993, just four days before Judge Benjamin Pelayo of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court was to issue a guilty verdict on him, Go bolted the Rizal Provincial Jail during a prayer vigil. He received a life
sentence in abstentia.
Go became one of the country’s most wanted men, remaining at large for three more years before being nabbed in a piggery farm in Pampanga province in 1996.
Go reportedly moved around four Northern Luzon provinces, namely: La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan his life on the run.
Go sported a different look and used the name Ernesto Diaz while in hiding. Surprisingly though, he was able to corner construction contracts that time.
In 1999, Go asked the Supreme Court, through a 57-page petition, to annul his life sentence, acquit him for murder, or lower his sentence to a homicide conviction. He claimed he had been denied due process largely because his case was sensational. He even claimed he did not plan to shoot Maguan.
With a report from Ritchie A. Horario
source: manilatimes.net
