MANILA, Philippines - The year 2012 was a turbulent year for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) even as the agency recovered from the scandals that caused the dismissal of former director Magtanggol Gatdula.
Gatdula and several of his men were charged before the Department of Justice in connection with alleged extortion of a Japanese national and a failed ambush on one of the NBI’s deputy directors.
Under the leadership of its new chief Nonnatus Caesar Rojas, the bureau has struggled to win back the public’s trust in the agency.
Records of the bureau’s Investigative and Intelligence Services and Regional Operations Services showed that 10,277 cases were terminated, including 2,971 cases that were recommended for prosecution.
NBI agents and special investigators arrested 167 persons with pending warrants of arrest issued by different courts nationwide.
The bureau’s experts conducted technical services in 11,399 cases that included forensic medicine and chemistry, questioned documents, ballistics, polygraphy, dactyloscopy and investigative photography. Bureau agents appeared in 1,433 court hearings.
Some 70,334 laboratory specimens were examined and analyzed.
Officials said 4,650,920 NBI clearances or an average of 22,468 a day were issued by the bureau nationwide for various purposes, while 4,593,547 clearances were processed and issued.
To serve the people more efficiently and conveniently, the NBI has introduced the e-clearance system wherein people can now apply for an NBI clearance through the Internet.
The new system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has significantly reduced the long lines of clearance applicants at the NBI main office and satellite offices in Metro Manila and Robinson’s Mall branches.
Significant cases for 2012
The NBI has identified and charged several people involved in the P12-billion Aman Futures Group investment scam that had victimized at least 15,000 people in Mindanao, as well as a multimillion-peso investment scam by a group led by Jachob “Coco” Rasuman. Rasuman was arrested by the NBI and the bureau launched a manhunt for several others involved. A few other investment scams were likewise discovered.
Some 17 foreigners who are members of a syndicate engaged in telephone fraud operating in the country were arrested during a raid on their base in Caloocan City.
Commissioner Alfredo Po of the Professional Regulations Commission was arrested for allegedly demanding money from a landlord who was renting office space to the PRC in Baguio City.
A joint team of NBI, Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and Armed Forces of the Philippines arrested in Zamboanga City last Nov. 28 Abu Sayyaf member Algaber Said alias Abu Talha, who was wanted for the kidnapping of 51 people in Basilan.
Bureau agents also arrested in Caloocan City last November revenue officer Thelma Binuya, who had demanded money from a business firm in exchange for allowing them to pay their compromise settlement for a tax liability case on installment.
Agents of the NBI-Special Task Force (STF) arrested in Cauayan, Isabela last Nov. 7 Robert Ponce, a suspect in the Barrameda-Jimenez killing.
Fourteen undocumented Chinese nationals who were found working in a mining company allegedly involved in illegal black sand mining in Aparri, Cagayan were arrested by agents of the NBI last Oct. 22.
The raid was conducted upon the request of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Thirty-one members of a Chinese syndicate engaged in fraudulent acts through the use of access devices were arrested during a raid by NBI agents in Parañaque City last Oct. 232.
NBI agents arrested eight members of a Taiwanese kidnap-for-ransom syndicate and rescued four victims during an operation in Manila.
In September 2012, four suspects in the murder of Italian missionary Fr. Fausto Tentorio were recommended for prosecution by the NBI before the provincial prosecutor of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.
Several Korean nationals allegedly engaged in an illegal gambling operation through the Internet were arrested by NBI operatives in Pasay City on Aug. 2.
An Iranian businessman, Parviz Khaki, who was indicted in the US for conspiracy to defraud the US government was arrested by NBI agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last May 23.
Nicolas Quillope, alias Nichole, who allegedly masterminded the killing of retired Judge Corazon Abalos Merrera last year in Dagupan City was also arrested in Quezon City.
NBI operatives confiscated a large quantity of counterfeit Louis Vuitton products estimated to be worth P79 million during raids on stalls and warehouses in Binondo, Manila last May 16.
Malaysian drug courier Bing Sye Poh was arrested by NBI operatives and P15 million worth of shabu was confiscated from him during an operation in Pasay City last March 23.
Information received by the NBI led to the discovery of a West African drug syndicate that uses Vietnamese, Malaysian and Filipino drug couriers to smuggle methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu from Africa to the Philippines.