Robin seeks DOJ help in Gino’s slay

Action star Robin Padilla personally went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday to seek the help of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez in the kidnap-slaying of his 27-year-old half-brother Rodolfo "Gino" Serafica Padilla.

Perez, in turn, directed Reynaldo Wycoco, director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to conduct an investigation.

"Padilla’s family rightfully clamors for justice. A thorough and expeditious investigation is required to ensure that the ends of justice are met," Perez said in a one-page order to Wycoco.

Gino’s decomposing body was found on March 14 in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, nearly a week after five unidentified men seized him from his family’s farmhouse in Cuyapo town, also in Nueva Ecija.

His kidnappers also killed the family’s caretaker and torched the farmhouse.

Perez called on people who have information on the kidnap-slaying to relay this to the DOJ. He said witnesses will be given adequate protection under the government’s witness protection program.

Robin told reporters they had waited for a call from Gino’s kidnappers for any ransom demand but no such calls came.

The Pantabangan police said Gino had a broken skull, his hands were tied and he was blindfolded with a handkerchief.

Earlier, Gino’s mother aired suspicions that certain relatives were behind the crime. She requested for police protection because her son’s killers are still at-large.

Robin and Gino’s father was the late Camarines Norte governor Roy Padilla Sr.