Kin deny P2-million bribe for Rolito Go's release

MANILA, Philippines - The family of prominent murder convict Rolito Go yesterday denied the allegation they had bribed an official of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) with P2 million to help facilitate the commutation of his sentence for killing Eldon Maguan.

Julie Sy, Go’s sister, described the story that came out in The STAR as “a baseless report.”

“I just hope they stop bugging us already, especially by spreading a false story,” Sy appealed to Maguan’s family. She said her brother, already 61 years old, is already sickly.

Citing unidentified sources, Maguan’s elder brother, Ellis, said P2 million was deposited in a Quezon City bank early this month for a PAO official to “push and recommend to the Office of the President for Go’s release next month.”

Go was sentenced in 1996 by a Pasig court to a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment for the death of Maguan, a De La Salle University engineering student, in Greenhills, San Juan. Go has been asking for a presidential pardon and a commutation of his sentence for the past three years.

Go’s family defends PAO

Sy took up the cudgels for the PAO and said it was unfair for the unidentified source of the story to besmirch the good name of the office. She said it was unlikely for PAO to be involved in bribery since it is involved mostly in cases of indigent persons.

“At their office, there is a sign that people cannot give money for PAO’s legal services,” Sy said.

Sy admitted that she has repeatedly sought the help of PAO chief Persida Rueda–Acosta at her office but “I have not talked to her because she seems to be hiding from me.”

She admitted they have been appealing for the release of her brother but stressed that they would not resort to bribing any official because they believe he is already qualified for clemency.

“We are just appealing to the Board of Pardon and Parole (BPP) for clemency because we are having a hard time already and Rolito Go already repented his sin,” Sy said in an interview.

She added they had already paid Maguan’s family P3,679,407.76 in damages ordered by the court through a manager’s check dated May 22, 2008 payable to Rosario Maguan. Sy showed reporters a photocopy of the court sheriff’s report certifying they have paid in full, and said the Maguans’ lawyer, Jose Flaminiano, also received a copy.

Sy said she personally delivered the check, received by Maguan’s brother, Ellis. “All of us chipped in because the Maguans wanted the full amount,” she said.

Maguans told to name names

Acosta cried foul over the reported bribery involving her office in connection to Go’s application for parole.

“Name names, and where’s the proof?” she challenged the source of the story. “Go’s application for clemency is with the (BPP). That’s beyond our jurisdiction so it would be impossible for a PAO official to handle that.”

Acosta said that the BPP is the only agency authorized under the law to make recommendations to President Arroyo on granting executive clemency to inmates.

Acosta also said she has disqualified Go as a PAO client since he is not an indigent person.