NBI ordered to subject Go, kin to lie detector test

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday to subject convicted killer Rolito Go and his sister and nephew to a lie detector test to check the inmate’s claim that he was kidnapped inside the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

“The evidence so far would tend to show that claims of forcible taking was bona fide,” she said.

“But the question is: What was that? What was the purpose of the abduction?”

Speaking to reporters, De Lima said while evidence would support Go’s claim he was kidnapped from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last Aug. 14, she has yet to be convinced that the culprits were after ransom money.

“They were released immediately,” she said.

“They asked for a very high amount first then brought it down to P1 million until he was just forced to withdraw P40,000 from ATM. That’s all they got so it was doubtful that ransom was really their purpose.”

De Lima said she has instructed the NBI to still pursue all angles, although she admitted that a “kidnap-me” scenario or connivance of Go with the kidnappers could be a possibility.

De Lima has confirmed reports of cases of robbery-extortion and kidnapping in the national penitentiary where suspects would initially demand millions but would later agree to lower the amount to P100,000 or P50,000.

A further probe is needed because NBI findings were not yet conclusive, she added.

After a closed-door meeting with NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas last Wednesday afternoon, De Lima revealed that witnesses saw Go in the Ina ng Awa Parish in the minimum security compound hours before four still unidentified men kidnapped him.

NBI agents were able to verify some details of the kidnapping and the places where Go was taken.

De Lima said that’s why the NBI needs to subject Go, his sister Julie and nephew Clemence to lie detector tests and to interview more witnesses.

“We want to be careful by saying it’s not yet conclusive,” she said.

De Lima said a deeper probe into the incident would determine who among NBP officials and personnel should be held accountable for Go’s disappearance.

She had called for a joint case conference with the Philippine National Police next week to consolidate results of their parallel investigations, she added.