BI issues hold order vs Roldan

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday it has issued a hold departure order (HDO) against former actor and congressman Dennis Roldan, who is out on bail while being tried for allegedly masterminding the abduction of a three-year-old boy last year.

Immigration Assistant Commissioner Jose Cabochan said he signed the HDO on behalf of Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. last Thursday, more than a week after the Pasig Regional Trial Court handling the case allowed Roldan to post P500,000 bail.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who issued the directive for the issuance of the HDO, said the inclusion of Roldan, Mitchell Gumabao in real life, was necessary "so as not to frustrate the ends of justice."

Gonzalez earlier assailed the decision of Pasig RTC Branch 261 Judge Agnes Reyes Carpio to allow Roldan to post bail on the ground there was no strong evidence to prove his guilt.

The decision also drew howls of protest from the victim’s family as well as various anti-crime groups, which pointed out that kidnap-for-ransom is a non-bailable offense.

Even the leadership of the Philippine National Police was dismayed over the court’s decision.

The judge, however, denied all applications for bail filed by the five other accused, namely: Octavio Garces, Romeo Orcajada, Adrian Domingo, and couple Noel and Rowena San Andres.

Calling Carpio’s decision "biased," DOJ assistant chief state prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said they have filed two motions asking the judge to inhibit herself from the case and recall the bail grant, respectively.