Controversial NBI agent sacked for misconduct

A special investigator of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who was romantically linked to Vizconde massacre star witness Jessica Alfaro, was dismissed from the service yesterday for gross misconduct and insubordination.

John Herra was fired by NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco and Justice Secretary Hernando Perez after he refused to comply with an official order for him to produce the stolen vehicle of ex-Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for macro-etching.

Enrile, in a privileged speech in April 1999, charged that Herra was seen escorting his red Mitsubishi Pajero (URB-125), purportedly issued to his JAKA Investment Corp., inside the NBI compound using a Toyota Corolla (UGY-598).

The former senator even branded the NBI as being a "coddler of carnappers."

The stolen vehicle was later recovered in Barangay Maybunga in Pasig City, which belied Enrile’s accusation that the vehicle was inside the NBI premises. A check with the NBI logbook also showed that no such vehicle entered the compound.

But further investigation indicated that Herra had been driving a Toyota Corolla, which Enrile claimed, was also stolen. The NBI prober was then directed to explain in writing why he was driving the "hot car."

Herra refused to comply with the directive, saying his car was neither reported stolen nor missing. When he was told to produce the vehicle for macro-etching at the forensic chemistry division, he also refused.

As a matter of defense, Herra said he "surrendered" the vehicle to a certain Ric Simeon, a sheriff of Manila regional trial court Branch 19, in compliance with a court order for him to produce the car.