NBI probes agent’s death

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)- 7 will conduct a parallel investigation on the death of lawyer Jeffrey Jude Yap, an agent of the NBI assigned at Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

Regional Director Edward Villarta said Yap was not under his supervision but that of  Prosecutor Liceria Rabillas, chief operations officer of MCIAA-Anti Trafficking in Persons Task Force.

Yap died after he accidentally shot himself while he was outside the staff house of the MCIAA when he lost his balance. He was allegedly drunk at that time, according to the police. He died at around 3:00 p.m. last Wednesday.

Villarta said that Yap, 35, went to their office once but it was Assistant Regional Director Lauro Reyes who met him personally as he was not in their office at that time.

The NBI director added that they will look at all possible angles but doubts it involved foul play.

“We are looking for all possible angles. As of now we are waiting for the autopsy result,” Villarta said.

Rabillas said in an interview that they immediately took the victim to Mactan Doctor’s Hospital but he was already dead when they arrived at the hospital. The body of Yap was taken to the Saint Francis Funeral Homes in Imus.

She said she met with Villarta and Lapu-lapu City Police Chief Lyndon Lawas last Wednesday night. So far, she said, based on the preliminary investigation they concluded that the incident was accidental.

During the incident, Rabillas said the victim was alone in the staff house because the other two who live there was in Manila and elsewhere in Lapu-lapu City.

She said that before the incident, the victim called the caretaker and asked him to buy bread but when the caretaker arrived, he found Yap slumped on the ground with a gunshot wound.

She added that there was no foul play in the incident considering it was a safe place. She said she cannot also say Yap committed suicide. He described Yap as a hardworking man.

If he was missing his family, Rabillas said this could not be a reason for committing suicide because he was about to go home in Davao after Christmas and spend 10 ten days there.

She added that Yap expressed his gratitude that he was assigned in MCIAA because it was easy for him to go home. Yap only started working in the MCIAA last October 19, 2012.

Rabillas said she called Irene, the victim’s wife, to inform her. — /JPM (FREEMAN)