Benipayo denies link with NBI vs Matibag

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Alfredo Benipayo yesterday denied that he has a direct link to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and has ordered to pin down former Education and Information Department (EID) chief Lawyer Ma. Angelina Matibag accused in the Velma Cinco ambush-slay.

"I did not direct anybody (from the NBI to pin down Matibag). I do not intend to. I refuse to comment about this case," stressed Benipayo, in reaction to Matibag’s allegations that the Comelec chief had a hand in pinning down the former information chief, during a press conference held at the Comelec session hall in Intramuros, Manila.

Benipayo also denied that he has instructed NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco to implicate Matibag in the murder of Cinco.

He said that Wycoco got his instructions directly from President Arroyo herself.

Cinco was gunned down inside her car while on her way to the Comelec office last Nov. 20. Her son, Carlo, 37 years old, was wounded but survived the attack.

Benipayo said that NBI agent Romualdo Asis is only involved in the investigation of P22 million unexplained wealth and graft case of Matibag, and not the murder of Cinco.

The NBI lashed at Matibag for "dictating" the course of the investigation of the Cinco murder case.

"Ms Matibag has no business directing us to exclude ourselves from the investigation of the Velma Cinco murder case. It is within the mandate of the NBI to investigate heinous crimes unmindful who the perpetrator is and without fear or favor. If she is really impatient to be invited to the NBI, she should not worry, we will invite her later," said Wycoco. – Sandy Araneta, Mike Frialde