Roldan posts bail, says he won’t flee

"I will not escape."

Former actor and congressman Dennis Roldan gave this assurance yesterday after posting P500,000 bail at the sala of Judge Agnes Reyes-Carpio, of Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 261.

A court employee said Roldan’s lawyer, Sigfried Fortun, posted bail using the South Sea Surety and Insurance Co. at 10 p.m.

Fortun, accompanied by Roldan’s two daughters, sought the release of the former actor from authorities at the city jail in Nagpayong.

During an interview, Roldan (Mitchell Gumabao in real life) said he would proceed directly to his residence at Filinvest Subdivision in Quezon City and spend time with his wife and children.

The former congressman said he has no intention of evading the kidnapping charges filed against him and his five other co-accused.

The next hearing of the case is on Aug. 8.

When asked whether he was interested in going back to acting, Roldan said he "would think about it."

For now, he wants to become a pastor since he has become a renewed Christian during his stay in jail for over a year.

Last Tuesday, Carpio granted Roldan bail, which drew a howl of protest from several camps, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and anti-crime watchdogs.  

The judge said the prosecution failed to present clear and strong evidence against Roldan.

The kidnapped boy’s parents said they would appeal the decision to allow Roldan to seek temporary liberty in the kidnapping case, which is a non-bailable offense.

Teresita Ang-See, founder of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), said the family would also ask the judge to inhibit herself in the case after she allegedly showed bias.

 "Very shocking talaga ang decision niya considering that kidnapping is not bailable. We believe that the case against him (Roldan) is one of the tightest dahil ito ay solid na solid na siya ang mastermind," Ang-See said in an interview.

She added that Roldan was even positively identified by the victim’s mother.

The judge granted the actor’s motion for bail despite the testimonies of at least 10 prosecution witnesses, who positively identified the ex-actor as the mastermind of the abduction.  

Carpio, however, denied the petition for bail filed by five other accused — Octavio Garces, Romeo Orcajada, Adrian Domingo and couple Noel and Rowena San Andres.

Roldan and his five co-accused were detained at the Pasig City jail after their arrest on Feb.20, 2005 following a successful rescue of the boy in Quezon City’s Cubao district.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it would ask the Pasig RTC to cancel the bail of Roldan.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon said the PNP, through the DOJ will file a motion for reconsideration to reverse the decision of the Pasig judge.

"Pinapaki-usapan namin yung kasamahan namin sa DOJ na we will make a motion or petition para ma-recall yung temporary granting ng bail ni Dennis Roldan," Calderon said.

He pointed out that the PNP has done everything to establish an airtight case against Roldan.

"We sympathize with the victims’ family and the rest of the Chinese community. We might be sending the wrong signal to them about our justice system. But we are also explaining to them that the court has its own basis in granting bail," the PNP chief said.

Calderon admitted that all the PNP can do is to ask for reconsideration. "Sa totoo lang ibinuhos na namin lahat ng ebidensya, kaya nagtataka kami bakit naging kulang pa sa paningin ng ating judge."

The PNP chief said he is saddened by the development.

He pointed out that Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response operatives, who were among those who arrested Roldan and his co-accused, have been religiously attending court proceedings.

Calderon, who is the concurrent chief of PACER, vowed to personally monitor the case.

"We believe that our evidence is sufficient, but if the judge says we need more evidence, then we will submit more evidence," Calderon said.

The PNP chief said he has been in contact with kidnap victims and Ang-See to be able to effectively address the problem on kidnapping incidents.