Kidnap victim renews call for NBI transparency

Kidnap victim Jackie Tiu reiterated her call on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to be transparent in its ongoing investigation on the alleged involvement of some of its ranking officials in the illegal deportation of one of the suspects in the kidnapping case.

Tiu made the call following reports that some Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials sought the help of the NBI to issue the necessary clearance to enable Zhang Du be deported back to China.

Sources earlier told The STAR that a ranking BI official had requested for the clearance of Zhang from the NBI.The same clearance was used to pull out Zhang from the detention before he was escorted out to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on a flight to China last May 7.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez ordered the relief and investigation of five agents, including BI Detention Center warden Police Superintendent Noel Espinosa, for "failure to prevent the irregularities in the bureau process that resulted to the illegal deportation of Zhang Du to China."

Fernandez also vowed to determine the possible involvement of other BI officials in Zhang’s escape, including BI Intelligence Division chief Faizal Hussin who allegedly sought for the clearance of Zhang from the NBI.

Tiu insisted the BI should make public its ongoing investigation to prevent doubts that it is covering up on its officials.

"We have to know everything. How can they establish credibility if they don’t reveal the details of the investigation?" she asked.

Tiu stressed the relief of the BI agents is not enough to compensate for the damages caused by Zhang’s illegal deportation.

"That was too painful for me," she said. "I need some closure. He has to pay for the injustice he and the other kidnappers had put me through."Tiu said she would be focusing on the investigation as she awaits the transfer of her case from San Fernando, La Union to Manila, following the order of the Supreme Court.

The NBI, which had expressed willingness to repatriate Zhang back to the country to face trial, said the transfer would cause delay in the worldwide search process since they would have to wait for an arrest warrant from the Manila courts before seeking the help of Interpol in Lyon, France.

Tiu said she also expects the same and for the meantime will "use this period to continue to pursue who was behind the anomalous release of my kidnapper, meaning there is no time to be wasted."

Tiu had sought the assistance of President Arroyo in asking the Chinese government to repatriate Zhang back to the country and face the ongoing trial in the four-year old kidnapping case.

Zhang was freed after he posted bail when the charge against him was reduced from principal to accessory.But he was again arrested in 2002 when immigration officials discovered he was an illegal alien.Zhang was detained at the bureau’s detention cell in Taguig City before he was mysteriously deported.Fernandez earlier said it is still possible to have Zhang back in the country through standing mutual cooperation agreements between the two countries.