Barbers tells NBI: Revamp medico legal division

Senator Robert Barbers yesterday asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to revamp its medico legal division to ensure that the agency is rid of extortionists.

Barbers, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, made the call in reaction to the arrest of NBI’s medico legal chief, Dr. Maximo Reyes, after being accused of extorting P200,000 from Dra. Linette Chan, owner of a hospital in Carmen, Pangasinan.

"I am asking NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco to revamp the medico legal office in the light of the arrest of the chief medico legal officer and pursue the criminal and administrative aspects of the case," Barbers said.

Barbers lauded Wycoco for instituting reforms in the NBI and for ordering the arrest of his own man.

Agents of the NBI-Special Task Force arrested Reyes inside his office at the NBI headquarters on Taft Avenue in Manila on June 11. Reyes was found positive for ultraviolet powder, which came from the money handed over to him by Dra. Chan.

Wycoco, for his part warned Reyes of getting into deeper trouble if he decides to leave the country to avoid prosecution on extortion charges.

"He’ll have more trouble if he leaves the country," Wycoco said.

Wycoco noted that they failed to immediately file formal charges against Reyes shortly after his arrest because of the absence of some documents, including sworn statements from the complainant.

The NBI chief, however, noted that charges will be filed "not later than Thursday."

Wycoco clarified that the bureau is not lenient on Reyes, instead they are building an airtight case against him to avoid public perception that the NBI filed the charges sloppily that could lead to the dismissal of the case.

Meanwhile, Barbers also asked Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane to dig deeper into the possible involvement of "active police officers" on "fake qualifications" presented by various persons applying for policemen.

"For all we know, there are some active policemen who were able to enter the PNP using fake qualifications," Barbers said. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe