3 NBI agents sued for extortion

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged “big time financier” at the Mactan casino filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against three agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 for extortion.

Samuel Latoree, a resident of Jasmin Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City sued NBI agents Arnel Pura, Dr. Rene Cam and Xerxes Baladya for administrative and criminal complaints.

Latoree said he was framed up with an alleged extortion by his former debtor Maria Elizabeth Sato, a regular guest at the Mactan Casino, who owes him P1.2 million.

He said Sato borrowed money from him after she lost at the casino.

However, Latoree said, Sato did not go back to the casino for quite a time and evaded from paying her debt.

Latoree said on April 7, 2011 he was invited by Sato to her house at the Pacific Villa I, Lapu-Lapu City, promising she would pay an initial P100,000.

In his excitement, he immediately went to the house of Sato and when he opened the envelope it contained only P2,000 real bills. The rest were some bogus papers.

To his surprise, the NBI agents then appeared and arrested him for extortion.

Latoree said he protested and said he will call his lawyer for legal assistance but Pura allegedly took his cell phone and took him to the NBI office.

At the NBI Office, Pura talked to Latoree about the prospect of settling the P1.2-million debt of Sato. Pura also allegedly asked for P100,000 in exchange for his immediate release from the NBI detention cell but Latoree refused to pay.

The day after, Pura asked again P150,000 for Latoree’s immediate release but the latter again refused to pay.

Latoree said the filing of the administrative and criminal complaints against respondents is to “cleanse the bureau of bad eggs and preserve the name, reputation and integrity of the NBI as an institution.”

Latoree likewise asked for a separate investigation from the head office of the NBI Manila and Department of Justice (DOJ) for disciplinary action and transfer or immediate suspension against the respondents and if warranted, dismissal from service. – THE FREEMAN