De Lima orders probe of state prosecutor

MANILA, Philippines -  Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered yesterday an investigation of a senior deputy state prosecutor after one of his aides was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for extorting P250,000 from a respondent in a case.

She told Prosecutor General Claro Arellano to direct the National Prosecution Service’s Internal Affairs Unit to start the investigation of Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Severino Gana.

Gana’s aide, Mutya Santiago, was arrested on Aug. 31 in his office in the Department of Justice (DOJ) building during an entrapment by NBI agents. She allegedly demanded money from former Binibining Pilipinas titleholder Nuriza Abeja in exchange for a favorable decision in her case.

Robbery extortion charges were filed against Santiago with the Manila regional trial court on Sept. 3. Santiago is currently out on a P100,000 bail.

The NBI is searching for Santiago’s alleged accomplice, “Louie,” reportedly an aide of another DOJ prosecutor. Louie was reportedly the one contacting Abeja, who contacted De Lima to report the attempt.