Friday, May 16, 2008 Council asks NBI to probe plot
THE Mandaue City Council has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 to investigate the alleged plot to kill Mayor Jonas Cortes.
The council passed a resolution yesterday to formalize the request. They also want NBI to look into the alleged plot to steal Mandaue City College (MCC) documents.
NBI Executive Officer Ernesto Macabare said they will evaluate and act on the resolution when they receive it.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Emilio Rosal, said the reported plan to kill Cortes and steal MCC documents have disturbed the peace and order of Mandaue City.
These have also “fueled vicious speculations and malicious innuendos from different quarters.”
Dr. Paulus Cañete, the former MCC president, was arrested last week while allegedly handing over a gun to Gavino Cabahug.
Cabahug alleged that Cañete hired him to steal MCC documents stored in its old campus. He also said Cañete wanted him to kill Cortes.
The resolution stated that the plot to kill the mayor may also happen to any other city official, prompting councilors to seek the help of NBI 7 Director Medardo de Lemos.
Councilors asked the NBI to conduct an “in-depth, independent investigation on the alleged plot to kill (Cortes) and the proposal to steal the records of Mandaue City College.”
The resolution, however, is silent on the entrapment operation that led to Cañete’s arrest for illegal possession of a gun.
Cañete is out on bail.
Macabare said it is the NBI’s mandate to assist in crime investigations when requested. He said that as soon as they receive the resolution, they will evaluate whether there is a need for them to conduct a probe. (OCP)
