Still another chance for ex-governor, wife

A compassionate National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is giving former Quezon Gov. Eduardo Rodriguez and his wife Imelda, both being sought by a US firm for insurance fraud, a third chance to surrender on Friday,

Ricardo Diaz, chief of the NBI-International Police (Interpol) Division, said the governor and his wife had asked for another chance to voluntarily surrender so they could face charges filed against them by a US-based insurance firm. The charges resulted in the extradition case against the couple.

Diaz pointed out that even if the NBI "forcibly" arrested the couple now, it would be useless since the wife would have to be brought to a medical facility anyway.

"We have to consider their situation, but if they don’t honor their commitment to turn themselves in, we’ll be left with no other alternative but to place them under arrest," Diaz said.

Lawyers of the couple promised to turn over the couple to the NBI last Saturday, but they failed to show up because the wife was ill. They were given a second chance to surrender last Tuesday, but they were no-shows once more, prompting the NBI to launch a manhunt.

The couple has a standing warrant of arrest issued last May 8 by a Manila judge who revoked their P2-million bail bond after the Supreme Court ruled that individuals facing extradition should be not be given liberty because of flight risks.

On Sept. 4, 2001, NBI agents arrested the wife at her Makati City condominium while the ex-governor was collared two days later. They were later released after posting bail.

Rodriguez and his wife are wanted in the US for allegedly defrauding an insurance firm of $150,000 in 1985. Rodriguez claimed his wife and mother-in law Gloria Gener, died in an accident in Antipolo.

However, the firm learned about deception and sued Rodriguez, who returned to the Philippines, where he ran and won as governor of Quezon province.