Witness ties Maguan brod to Go seizure

Rolito Go. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Eliot Maguan, whose brother was gunned down by former businessman Rolito Go during a traffic altercation in 1991, was linked Monday to the high-profile convict’s abduction in August by one of the suspected kidnappers.

Eliot, brother of victim Eldon Maguan, was said to have conversed with the alleged financier of Go’s abduction by kidnap suspect Armand Mondero, during the closed-door preliminary investigation of the convict’s kidnapping at the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to Go’s lawyer Claire Castro.

Go was convicted of Eldon’s killing and is serving time at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Last August, Go and his nephew, Clemence Yu, were forcibly taken from a church inside the NBP by armed men. They were released in Batangas City after a day.

Castro said Mondero, who surrendered to police and asked to be allowed to turn state’s evidence, initially told investigators he overheard the alleged financier of the abduction, Emilio Ortiz, and another respondent talking on the phone to “Mr. Magbuan.”

Mondero also claimed he saw “Mr. Magbuan” on the phone talking to Ortiz, she said.

She said Mondero had thought “Mr. Magbuan” was a financier of the abduction plan.

When shown a video grab of Eliot Maguan, Castro said the suspect “identified this man as Mr. Magbuan.”

“If (Maguan) is really involved here, we will be surprised because what is the reason for kidnapping Mr. Go? What is the motive?” Castro said.

Asked the reaction of Go, who was at the hearing yesterday, Castro said she did not know as he was in pain during the hearing. Go is battling colon cancer. Christine O. Avendaño