De Lima to NBP execs: Explain Rolito Go hospitalization

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday ordered New Bilibid Prison (NBP) officials to explain the hospitalization of convicted killer Rolito Go outside the state penitentiary.

“I already asked for an explanation from NBP officials. I’m waiting for the report of Bureau of Corrections Director (Franklin Jesus) Bucayu on that,” she said in a text message.

The STAR reported yesterday that Go was confined at the Metropolitan Medical Center in Binondo.

Bucayu, for his part, said he was preparing the report to be submitted to De Lima.

NBP Superintendent Robert Rabo earlier explained that the cancer-stricken Go was brought to the hospital for chemotherapy.

Rabo said the hospitalization of Go had prior approval from the Department of Justice.

Go was convicted for killing a 25-year-old student in a road rage incident in 1991.

Earlier, De Lima ordered an investigation into the reported facilities at the NBP allegedly built by high-profile inmates.

She has ordered Bucayu to look into the supposed two-story house of convicted shabu flea market operator Amin Imam Boratong and a pool of convicted drug trafficker Jaybee Sebastian.

Rabo explained that the house being attributed to Boratong serves as a praying area for convicted Muslim elders.

He believes that the rumor about the Boratong property in the NBP came either from parties interested in his post or those affected by their reforms.