NBI sends Korina ‘letter of comfort’

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday apologized to newscaster Korina Sanchez for implicating her as an alleged investor in the international pyramiding syndicate FrancSwiss Investment.

Regional Director Ruel Lasala of the NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) sent a one-page “letter of comfort” six days after they mentioned Sanchez as one of the personalities who reportedly invested a large amount of money in FrancSwiss.

“We regret the undue publicity brought to your name in relation to the FrancSwiss or FS Investment pyramiding Internet scam. Apparently, in view of your popularity and credibility as a media personality, the persons behind the scam are unscrupulously using your good name to entice potential victims into investing in the Internet venture,” he said.

Lasala added that “based on our preliminary inquiry on the matter, there exists no reason or basis to believe that you have acted for or in behalf of these scam artists. We express our apologies for your apprehensions.”

However, when asked if the letter signified that the NBI is absolving Sanchez from any involvement with FrancSwiss, he said that investigation was still going on.

He issued the letter after he talked to Sanchez’ lawyer. The bad publicity reportedly adversely affected Sanchez’s endorsement deals.

In a previous interview, the NBI said they received unverified reports that Sanchez was allegedly recruited by a certain Jay Heredia and that she invested P15 million.

Aside from Sanchez, celebrities Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago, former Isabela governor Benjamin Dy and his brother Victor, and former Pop Cola basketball player Bonel Balingit were among those whose names were reportedly mentioned as investors.  – Evelyn Macairan