2 arrested for NBI clearance racket

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two men for making fake NBI clearance papers in C.M. Recto, Manila late Monday afternoon.

Arrested were Jovanni Pagaduan, 32, resident of 350 Taylo street, Pasay City and Mencio Cawaling, 55, of 1871 C.M. Recto Avenues, Quiapo, Manila.

NBI agents are now hunting down the third suspect, a certain Elenita Dayrit, 43, who managed to escape upon seeing the arresting lawmen.

Charges of falsification of public documents will be filed against the suspects.

In his report, Mario Garcia of thet NBI-International Police Division (Interpol) said the two were arrested during an entrapment in their stall in 1871 C.M. Recto, Quiapo, Manila at around 5 p.m. Monday.

Garcia reported that the entrapment against the suspects was set up following information that they were the source of counterfeit NBI clearance documents.

NBI agents tapped an asset, who applied for an NBI clearance from Dayrit, who in return, offered to issue clearance without him going throught the process of going to NBI main headquarters or in district offices.

However, Dayrit demanded P3,000 for the fake clearance. The genuine costs only P115.

During the entrapment, NBI agents withnessed how Pagaduan and Cawaling printed the fake NBI clearance for their undercover asset while Dayrit was in the adjacent store.

Garcia along with NBI agent James Tosoc arrested the two shortly after they received the marked money from the asset while Dayrit managed to escape.

Pagaduan and Cawaling were found positive for ultraviolet powder used during the entrapment.

Ruben Solitario, chief of the NBI-Electronics Data Processing Division, confirmed that the clearance issued by Pagaduan and Cawaling was counterfeit.

At first glance, one could easily fail to spot the difference between the genuine NBI clearance and the fake clearance.

But NBI agents explained the seal of the fake NBI clearance was very different from the genuine.