EDITORIAL - Law enforcers, lawbreakers

When the head himself of the National Bureau of Investigation is sacked for alleged involvement in kidnapping and extortion, higher authorities need to take a close look at the activities of all law enforcement agencies. Yesterday, as the Department of Justice confirmed that Magtanggol Gatdula had been sacked as NBI director, employees of the bureau reassured the public that they do not condone wrongdoing in their ranks.

Gatdula, a retired police officer, was accused of having personal knowledge of the kidnapping of Noriyo Ohara, an undocumented Japanese woman who reportedly fled to the Philippines in 2009 to escape from the Yakuza or crime rings in her country. She was arrested in Pangasinan in October last year by agents of the NBI’s security and management division for violating immigration laws. SMD members allegedly extorted from her a total of P6 million. Gatdula is accused of involvement in covering up the case.

This is not the first extortion case involving law enforcers and individuals, Filipinos and foreigners alike, who are arrested for various offenses. Foreigners seem to be favorite targets, not only because they have money to pay but also because they tend to be scared of filing a complaint against the extortionists. It is also easy to allow them to leave the country in case the extortion is uncovered and investigated. Immigration officers gained notoriety in the past for such operations.

The only positive aspect in the NBI case is that charges are being filed against those accused of involvement. Gatdula will have his day in court. For now he faces indictment together with his special assistant Raul Dimaano, NBI SMD chief Mario Garcia, executive officer Jose Odellon Cabillan, 12 security volunteers and assets Chona Ellen Esplana and Virgelito Gutierrez.

As the DOJ pursues the case, authorities must implement measures to discourage similar operations in other law enforcement agencies. As in other felonies, failure to catch and punish perpetrators guarantees that the crime will flourish.