MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into a conspiracy angle in connection with the shootout leading to Jason Ivler’s arrest after NBI operatives found a gadget allegedly used by the suspect’s mother Marlene Aguilar to communicate with him and monitor the movements of the arresting team at their house in Quezon City last Jan. 18.
Head agent Ross Bautista, executive officer of the Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence Services, said Aguilar may be charged with direct participation as co-conspirator of her son possibly for frustrated murder, attempted murder and direct assault with illegal possession of firearms.
“The operatives found a gadget during the Jan. 18 operations. We noticed that she wore an earpiece and seemed to be talking to someone. We strongly believe that our movements were being relayed to Ivler with the use of a cell phone, earpiece and other gadgets,” Bautista said.
He said the filing of additional charges against Ivler was delayed after the NBI found the gadget during the inventory of evidence.
“In a conspiracy theory, the act of one is the act of all. If Aguilar indeed knew the plan of Ivler to assault us, then she will be charged with direct participation. So whatever additional charges we are going to file against Ivler, we will also file the same against Aguilar. She will be charged as principal,” Bautista said.
Earlier, lawyer Reynaldo Esmeralda, NBI Deputy Director for Technical Services, dismissed the claims of Aguilar that her son was framed.
“The NBI dismisses Marlene’s claim that Jason Ivler was framed. No violations were committed by our men during Jason’s arrest,” Esmeralda said, adding that Marlene’s claim that her British bodyguard could have had a hand in the killing of Renato Ebarle Jr. is the “highest form of deception and cover up to mislead the public.”
Ivler underwent another surgical procedure yesterday afternoon to clean up infections and close a wound after the patient vomited in the morning.
Dr. Fernando Lopez, head of surgery at Quirino Memorial Medical Center, said Ivler’s vomiting was triggered by the non-functioning of parts of his intestines.
In a medical bulletin yesterday afternoon, Lopez said they had to rearrange Ivler’s large intestines in a two-hour procedure that included repairing the tension sutures on his abdomen.
According to Lopez, Ivler is back to “guarded condition” following the procedure and would need another seven days to recover. He is back on an IV diet.
Informant gets reward
Meanwhile, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Roberto Rosales yesterday turned over its P500,000 share in reward money to the informant during the traditional flag raising ceremony in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Lawyer Ruel Lasala, NBI intelligence chief, accompanied the informant, who was in rubber shoes, jeans and black jacket.
The tipster is now P1 million richer after Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa handed over part of the reward money last week.
“The arrest of Ivler, through the information provided by the informant, shows that members of the community can do a lot in helping law enforcement agencies like the PNP and NBI in capturing notorious criminals and other individuals that are in hiding because of pending warrants,” said Rosales.
The NCRPO chief also appealed to the public for cooperation in the PNP’s campaign against crime and terrorism in Metro Manila.
“With or without reward, all of us should be driven by higher motives of concern for our society and must report wanted criminals or any illegal activity to the police and other law enforcement agencies,” Rosales said. – Non Alquitran, Reinir Padua