Ombudsman orders review of raps against Gatdula

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales yesterday ordered the review of the fact-finding investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) against dismissed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula.

Morales ordered the creation of a special panel to investigate the case against Gatdula and the NBI officials who are accused of kidnapping an undocumented Japanese national and extorting P6 million from her.

Morales gave the four-member panel 15 days to finish the review and submit a report and their recommendations.

The special panel, whose members were not identified for security reasons, was tasked to look into the DOJ’s findings and determine if further fact-finding is needed, if a preliminary investigation should now be conducted, or if the charges should be dismissed.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima last week announced the DOJ’s fact-finding panel found probable cause to charge Gatdula and other NBI officials in the alleged kidnapping and extortion of Noriyo Ohara last year.

De Lima said the probe body chaired by Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III had recommended the filing of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention charges against Gatdula and other officials of the NBI. Apart from Gatdula, also recommended charged were NBI security and management division head Special Investigator Mario Garcia, Special Investigator Jose Odellon Cabillan, their assets identified as Chona Ellen Esplana and Virgelito Gutierrez alias Labsky, Gatdula’s special assistant Raul Dimaano, and 12 security volunteers.

The DOJ also recommended robbery charges against Garcia, Esplana and Gutierrez for allegedly co-conspiring in “forcibly taking the bulk of Noriyo Ohara’s personal properties” while the Japanese national was in detention at the NBI.

Gatdula denied the allegations and vowed to fight back to clear his name.