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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Ex-basketball cager surrenders to US authorities
BACOLOD CITY -- A former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player accused of stabbing to death a Mexican in Nevada surrendered to US federal agents in California Tuesday.
Bacoleņo Rudy "The Destroyer" Distrito, who has been residing in the US for several years now, gave himself up to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents because he wanted to clear his name, said his nephew Carl, the spokesman of the Distrito family on the matter.
He said Rudy called them up Monday to inform them he was surrendering to the FBI the following day.
Cesar said they kept the conversation short because they "don't want to add to his (Rudy's) emotional and psychological distress."
"Ok lang siya, we told him ara lang kami sa likod niya. (He's all right, we told Rudy we're always behind him)," said Cesar, adding that they advised the cager to face the allegations.
He said they would leave everything to Rudy's lawyer in the United States.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in its report that Rudy, 46, stabbed several times Juan Amaya, 24, after an alleged argument.
The victim, the police report added, was the new husband of Rudy's ex-wife Jocelyn.
Cesar, however, said Jocelyn and Distrito are still married but have been living separately for the past several years.
"We did not ask him further about specific details because we don't want to add pressure on him," added Cesar.
He also said Distrito is being assisted by immediate relatives in California.
Information in Las Vegas disclosed Distrito would soon be turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department where he will be temporarily housed.
Accounts also disclosed that LA public information officer Jason Lee said once the FBI turns over Distrito to their department, extradition proceedings will immediately be done.
In this case, Distrito will be officially surrendered to Las Vegas authorities where the alleged crime happened.
Las Vegas police were dispatched to check out a report of an argument at an apartment in Nevada.
When they arrived at the scene, police found Amaya with multiple stab wounds.
Amaya was rushed to the nearby University Medical Center (UMC) in Southern Las Vegas but did not survive his injuries.
Rudy became a suspect in the crime after witnesses testified to seeing him fleeing from the scene on foot wearing a silver sweatshirt and gray pants.
Other accounts revealed that Distrito was with two other unidentified persons before the crime was committed.
A bench warrant was then issued for Rudy's arrest.
He was charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon.
Cesar said at the time the crime was committed, Jocelyn was living with her 70-year-old mother Illuminada Villadolid, said to be a US immigrant, in Long Beach, California, with her and Rudy's four children.
Cesar insists Rudy is a good man. (With reports from Dennis Principe)
(December 9, 2004 issue)
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