NBI deputy chief links slay try to case of Japanese woman

Thursday, February 23, 2012

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official who survived a slay attempt Tuesday night said the attack on his life may be link to kidnapping and extortion case filed by a Japanese woman against some bureau officials.

Interviewed on television Tuesday, NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda confirmed receiving information some two weeks ago that a certain group is out to silence him other officials of the bureau.

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Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, for her part, said that could be one of the motives for the slay try since other Department of Justice (DOJ) officials who looked into the alleged kidnapping of Japanese national Noriyo Ohara last year are also receiving death threats.

They are Undersecretary Francisco Baraan and Assistant Secretary Zabedin Asis, who were members of the fact-finding panel that recommended former NBI chief Magtanggol Gatdula be placed under preliminary investigation since he allegedly had personal knowledge of the crime and helped in the cover-up.

"We have to investigate this ambush carefully even if there were no fatalities. I am not accusing anyone at this point," De Lima said, adding that they will beef up security in the DOJ and the NBI following the ambush on Tuesday night against Esmeralda.

Asked for comment, Gatdula denied involvement in the ambush saying he will "never, insult, threaten, or harm any person just to vindicate" himself on accusations that he participated in the crime against Ohara.

"Even when my honor was tainted and my innocence pre-judged by unfair accusations, I stepped down quietly, and submitted to the tedious process of the court to clear my name. But this is too much. This is an assault to my person," Gatdula said.

The incident came a day after a Manila court issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the DOJ from proceeding with its preliminary investigation on Gatdula.

In an 11-page resolution, Judge Felixberto Olalia of the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 8 granted Gatdula's request to indefinitely stop the DOJ from investigating him on the ground that his case has already been prejudged by Justice Secretary de Lima and President Benigno Aquino III.

Aside from Esmeralda, his brother and his driver also sustained injuries when motorcycle-riding gunmen blocked and fired at their vehicle on Apacible street in Paco, Manila past 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Esmeralda's physicians at the Manila Doctor's Hospital have since declared him out of danger because he was merely grazed by a bullet from motorcycle-riding gunmen. His two companions, meanwhile, are currently undergoing treatment for gunshot wounds. (Sunnex)