NBI agent faces ax for kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from service of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent for his alleged involvement in kidnapping.

In a nine-page decision, the anti-graft agency said it found sufficient evidence to hold Special Investigator III Junnel Malaluan guilty of grave misconduct.

The case stemmed from a letter sent by former NBI director Nestor Mantaring recommending the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the agent for the kidnapping of Panayangan Demasar.

During the course of the investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman learned that on March 10, 2009, Demasar was kidnapped and men who claimed to be Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives called up Demasar’s wife and demanded P1 million for his release.

Demasar’s wife, who managed to lower the ransom to P340,000, contacted the Philippine National Police. The kidnappers set the payoff in the NBI compound along Taft Avenue in Manila.

The Office of the Ombudsman said it based its decision on reports by the NBI internal affairs division and Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response unit.

Malaluan also faces a criminal case of kidnapping for ransom, a non-bailable offense, before the Imus, Cavite regional trial court.