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Wednesday, March 10, 2004
NBI chief denies rumors of payoff
By Allen S. Terencio
* NBI agents seize ten imported used right-hand drive vehicles in Davao raid
NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Sarangani district office (Sardo) chief Atty. Boye Mama Tuesday denied the rumors they allegedly received payoffs from a businesswoman who owned illegally imported luxury cars seized by NBI operatives last week in Davao City.
"The rumors are not true and we already filed a case against the owner of the establishment," Mama disclosed in an interview Tuesday.
NBI operatives under Mama last week raided the establishment named Incarnational owned by a certain Anna Fe Watanabe in Maa, Davao City.
He said the raid was conducted after a one-month surveillance, following reports he received last February 2 about the alleged involvement of the owner in the smuggling of vehicles.
Mama said the NBI raid netted 10 imported right-hand drive luxury cars but could not provide the specific list, saying the documents were brought by his agent following up the case in a court in Davao City.
Mama said Watanabe called him up the following morning and asked how much he needs in exchange for not filing a case against her.
"Hindi ako nakikipag-areglo at sinabihan ko siya na sa korte na lang kami magkikita (I did not make arrangements with her and I told her that we will just see each other in court)," Mama said.
According to Mama, aside from Watanabe, a certain police Col. Aquino of Davao City also called him up and tried to settle the case.
Two of his agents were also offered P50,000 by Watanabe for the settlement of the case, Mama added.
But Mama said a case of violating Republic Act 8506 prohibiting the importation and possession of right-hand drive vehicles was already filed last Monday against Watanabe before a court in Davao City.
The NBI chief said the rumors might be the handiwork of a syndicate involved in the illegal activity.
However, NBI sources in Davao City chided Mama for failing to coordinate the operation with their office last week.
The source, who declined to be identified, said it was the second time Mama failed to coordinate a raid in Davao City.
The other incident reportedly involved the seizure of alleged pilfered liquefied petroleum gas tanks at Pryce Gases Inc., also in Davao City.
The raid came just weeks after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized eight right-hand vehicles reportedly smuggled by a Cagayan de Oro-based car trader.
(March 10, 2004 issue)
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