2 nabbed for Rolito Go kidnap

MANILA, Philippines - Two members of a group allegedly behind the abduction of convicted murderer Rolito Go from the premises of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) last August have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed yesterday.

She identified the two as Armando Mondero and Police Officer 2 Emerson Guazon. They will be presented to the media today at the NBI during the bureau’s anniversary.

In a text message to reporters, De Lima said one of the suspects surrendered while the other was arrested based on an arrest warrant for a separate car theft case.

She said the NBI already filed a case against them with the Department of Justice (DOJ) last Nov. 5.

“Both are in the custody of NBI. They executed affidavits subscribed before a DOJ prosecutor,” she said.

Go was kidnapped by four men at the Ina ng Awa parish in the minimum security compound of the NBP last Aug. 14.

De Lima earlier 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. – Edu Punay, Sandy Araneta