Groups peddling lies to derail Rolito Go’s abduction probe – police

Rolito Go. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Some groups with vested interest have been trying to muddle the ongoing investigation into Rolito Go’s alleged abduction case, an official of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) of the Philippine National Police deplored Monday.

The statement was prompted by reports that Go was seen gambling on the day he claimed he was snatched from the New Bilibid Prison.

In a media briefing, AKG officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Renato Gumban said it is unlikely that Go, who underwent a colostomy surgery, would play in a casino.

Talk was rife that Go played baccarat at Casino Pilipino in Pampanga sometime after he went missing from his detention cell last month. A security camera allegedly caught Go on tape.

“Who would still gamble if he knows his movement is restricted by medical gadgets like a colostomy bag?” Gumban said in Filipino.

Even if a security camera really had recorded Go gambling, Gumban said investigators will need to validate whether the footage was indeed taken between August 14 and 15, 2012.

He said, however, that AKG is not planning to request for a copy of the footage as they maintained that Go was abducted based on the result of their investigation and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Gumban said this angle of the case is being peddled by parties with vested interest to mislead the authorities and the public.

He said the identification of the persons behind the alleged attempt to confuse the investigation will also be investigated, but it is not AKG’s priority as of the moment.

“Our top consideration now is to find out who are the perpetrators [of the kidnapping], and to find out the motive behind this,” Gumban said.