NBI men in kidnap to face administrative raps

MANILA, Philippines - Prosecutors and graft investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman tasked to review the results of a kidnapping and extortion investigation involving an undocumented Japanese woman conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials have recommended the filing of administrative complaints against the respondents.

However, the review panel found no reason to pursue any administrative sanction against former NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula since he had already been removed from his post by President Aquino.

STAR sources said the team found sufficient grounds to proceed with the conduct of administrative proceedings or hearings against NBI security and management division (SMD) head Special Investigator Mario Garcia, agent Jose Odellon Cabillan, their assets identified as Chona Ellen Esplana and Virgelito Gutierrez alias Labsky, Gatdula’s special assistant Raul Dimaano, and 12 other security volunteers.

The administrative adjudication will determine if they should be sanctioned for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming, and other administrative offenses.

The review panel’s recommendations were submitted to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales last week just before the expiration of the 10-day deadline given to review the DOJ’s findings.

STAR sources said the team did not touch on the criminal aspect of the case since the DOJ is yet to complete its probe and per request of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

In addition, the review panel, whose members do not want to be identified for security reasons, also called for further investigation against unnamed officials or personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Ombudsman prosecutors and graft investigators said the question of who allowed Noriyo Ohara to enter the country illegally and who informed the NBI of her case and whereabouts should be looked into.

Last month, Ombudsman Morales ordered the creation of a review panel after receiving results of an administrative investigation on the incident from De Lima.

The DOJ’s fact-finding probe of the alleged Ohara kidnapping last year recommended the filing of criminal charges against those believed to have been involved in her alleged abduction and for extorting P6 million from her.