NBI tries warrantless search of Belo house

MANILA, Philippines – Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo’s lawyer yesterday branded as inappropriate an attempt by three National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents to search the celebrity doctor’s residence last week without a search warrant or any prior notice.

Records at Dasmariñas Village, Makati City showed that on the night of June 23, agents Palmer Mallari, Christian Ibasco, and Glenn Nolacio went to Belo’s residence in a Ford Expedition (HHH-800), according to lawyer Adel Tamano.

The agents told the subdivision guards they were on their way to see Belo. Since they were able to provide the correct address and leave official identification, the guards allowed them to enter.

Tamano said that at Belo’s residence, despite the fact that she was not at home, Mallari insisted that he and his two companions be allowed to search the residence, particularly for a computer found inside.

The NBI agents requested the in-house security guard to turn over their security logbook to them. One of the house helpers then called Belo, who in turn informed Tamano about the situation.

“I was very surprised, to say the least,” said Tamano in a statement issued to the press.

“The zeal of the NBI agents does not erase the fact that the procedure they employed was quite inappropriate. Dr. Belo and our law firm have repeatedly assured the NBI of our full cooperation. If they wanted to have access to the logbook or the computers, all they had to do was go through the proper procedures and ask us,” he added.

Tamano was able to speak with Mallari through the telephone while the agent was still at Belo’s house.

Tamano said Mallari confirmed his team was there in relation to the complaint of model-actress Katrina Halili regarding the uploading of the videos of her having sex with cosmetic surgeon Dr. Hayden Kho.

“Why would the NBI come unannounced, after office hours, and without any warrant? We certainly have nothing to hide, but our Constitution is very clear about our individual rights to privacy. I reiterate that if the NBI needs anything from us, we will gladly provide it to them as long as it is requested in the correct lawful manner,” Tamano said.

Belo said she was unsettled by the incident. “I am sure that anyone in my position would be alarmed and quite disturbed. An incident like this can be easily misinterpreted, and it would be unfair if the NBI were placed in a negative light,” she said.

Belo said her lawyer has informed both NBI Director Nestor Mantaring and Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (AFCCD) chief Vicente de Guzman III about what happened.

“I hope the bureau acknowledges the fact that I have always been cooperative in its investigations on the matter,” Belo said.

The STAR tried but failed to contact the NBI for its reaction to Belo’s allegations.

New Hayden sex photos

New photos of another woman having sex with Kho are currently circulating over the Internet.

The photos, which appeared to be video grabs, show Kho and Princess Velasco engaged in explicit sexual acts. In the email message accompanying the photos, Velasco is described as the institutional marketing manager of the Belo Medical Group.

The same email message said Velasco “allegedly had an affair with Hayden while they both worked at the Belo clinic. Velasco’s boyfriend, a certain Bistek, who is a friend of Hayden, reportedly learned about the affair which Princess allegedly confessed.”

Last week, Velasco, together with Erick Chua and Dr. Herbert “Bistek” del Rosario – Kho’s estranged friends – filed counter-affidavits before the Department of Justice regarding the criminal complaint filed by Halili against them for allegedly leaking the sex videos on the Internet.