No arrest for MTRCB chief

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was poised yesterday to arrest Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chief Marian Elena Dinglasan for allegedly violating the Bouncing Check Law 16 years ago.

But even before any move could be made, a Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued an order cancelling the alias arrest order and ordered her "release from detention."

Judge Vivencio Baclig signed the order after Dinglasan posted the necessary bail bond of P1,000 under official receipt 16149539.

In a statement, Dinglasan denounced the "rabid witchhunt" launched by her enemies..

"My detractors have filed a silly case before the Ombudsman two weeks ago. Having neither sense nor evidence, it did not fly. Now, they have resurrected a charge that has been gathering dust in the court archives since 1986. I was never arraigned for that case, which only has a prescription period of four years. Sixteen years after, I suddenly find myself fair game all because I have shown the will and fortitude to go after the insider syndicate in the MTRCB," she said.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco defended the arrest order.

"It is ordinary police work. It is just that the person who is the subject of the arrest warrant is not ordinary. Also this is an old case," Wycoco said.

The warrant was issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Juan Nabong for Dinglasan’s alleged estafa case in 1986.

According to Wycoco, the NBI was requested to arrest Dinglasan by victim Carmelita Romero who allegedly received a check for P50,000 that bounced.

Romero said she positively identified Dinglasan as the one who issued her a bad check after she saw her in a TV footage.

Romero’s lawyer Raul Lambino said the check was issued as part of an investment for a prawn raising business.

Lambino told reporters that Dinglasan had previously jumped bail. As of press time, Dinglasan has not appeared at the NBI headquarters.

The NBI dispatched a team composed of agents from the Narcotics and the Anti-Organized Crime Division, led by agent Ruel Lasala, to arrest Dingalasan at her last known residence address in Malate, Manila.