Murder convict Rolito Go has served sentence, no need to rearrest – DOJ

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra believes the police should no longer hunt down convicted murderer Rolito Go because he already served his sentence.

Guevarra added that Philippine National Police (PNP) should no longer track down Go.

“Yes. Because he is not supposed to be one of those convicted of heinous crimes who were prematurely released on account of GCTA (good conduct time allowance),” Guevarra explained in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel Friday.

Guevarra said Go served his sentence in full after it was commuted, hence he should be excluded from the list of convicts allegedly been freed due to good conduct time allowance (GCTA).

“You know if I recall correctly, he was freed because of commutation of sentence. I don’t think it’s because of good conduct time allowance alone,” Guevarra said.

“My recollection is that his sentence was commuted and he had served it in full that’s why he’s already out. And he should not be included here (list) anymore,” Guevarra continued.

In 2016, it was the Supreme Court itself that ordered Go’s granting his petition for writ of habeas corpus.

He said he was supposed to be released in 2012, a year before the effectivity of the GCTA law.

His name, however, was still included in the PNP’s, although the same document stated that he was convicted of rape instead of murder.  /gsg