PNP chief: Rolito Go was abducted

MANILA, Philippines – Based on the “circumstances,” convicted murderer Rolito Go was “taken by force,” the head of the Philippine National Police said on August 16.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the police recovered an empty shell from the car of Clemence Yu, Go’s nephew and nurse who was also allegedly abducted with the convicted killer on the evening of August 14, and confirmed that Go was hit in the head by his alleged abductors.

Bartolome said however that they will deepen their investigation.

Bartolome, Go and Yu appeared at a press conference in Camp Crame on Thursday, August 16. The murder convict went missing Wednesday morning, August 15, in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. He resurfaced Wednesday evening, saying he and his nephew were brought to a safehouse in Sto Tomas, Batangas by their “kidnappers.”

Go said they were taken by 4 men on their way out of Ina ng Awa church, just outside the prison gates, Wednesday morning. The men had identification cards showing they’re from the National Bureau of Investigation.

No ransom

Go said the men assured him that he would be driven back to the compound, but he got suspicious when the car made a U-turn instead of going straight to the compound.

“Akala ko didiretso, bigla akong lumaban (I thought we were heading straight, but when we did not, I fought in resistance),” he said. The men then drove to Sto Tomas, Batangas. “Madilim, bukid area (It was dark; we were in a farm),” Go recalled.

Go said the 4 men threatened to kill him if the ransom – first reported to be at P1 million – is not paid. He added that his alleged kidnappers had a heated argument Wednesday afternoon when they learned that the Go family could not produce the ransom.

Go said he and Yu were let go by one of the “kidnappers” because the group may have “realized that they will not get anything even if they kill me,” he said in Filipino.

Go said they were eventually released by one of the men who told them to “just forget the incident.”

The two then took a bus and went to Alabang, Muntinlupa, where they were met by the police.

The PNP chief dodged questions on the possible connivance between NBP personnel and the abductors, saying it is not part of the scope of their probe.

Go – who was put behind bars in 1993 for shooting student Eldon Maguan in a road rage incident in 1991 – has been staying in the minimum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for about 4 years now.

Go will be taken back to the NBP, while Yu will remain in the custody of the PNP.

Like Leviste

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III said Go can be charged with evasion of sentence if proven that he was not really abducted.

Another high-profile inmate, former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste, was charged with the same offense after it was discovered that he was able to leave his prison repeatedly in 2011.

If found guilty, Go can serve 6 months-6 years behind bars. Baraan added his application for parole will also be compromised. Go, who is suffering from colon cancer, applied for parole in 2010 but was turned down. – Rappler.com