MANILA, Philippines - I write in response to the letter of NBI Supervising Agent Dominador M. Villanueva III.
Mr. Villanueva wrote a lengthy letter yet he failed to do one thing — to categorically deny that he has not been in anyway involved in extortion and protection rackets. The only thing he managed to state was that the allegations “cannot stand in any court of law”, the most convenient reply of a guilty person.
Mr. Villanueva likewise harped about the relationship of the undersigned with columnist Jarius Bondoc yet conveniently omitting to state the fact that the news items re his alleged illegal activities were likewise written by several other columnists/reporters of other papers.
Nonetheless, in the interest of fair play please let me point out the following:
First, the alleged “harassment” against Mr. Villanueva didn’t start in February 2010. As early as late last year I already warned him about these matters. I also warned him that if these persist we would not anymore accept their cases lest others would think that we are also on the take. If ordering law enforcers to stop their extortion activities is “harassment”, then I will proudly admit that I harassed them.
In February 2010, the NBI Cavite arrested Roderick Linao for robbery and illegal possession of firearm. They called up our office noon of that day (Friday) and informed us that they would be filing the cases. Yet, at about 5p.m. they were still nowhere to be found. A DOJ superior then informed us that the wife of Libunao is frantically seeking help because allegedly Mr. Villanueva and his cohorts are demanding P1 million from her else they would kill him. This was the last straw, we filed a complaint against Mr. Villanueva, et. al. before the Ombudsman.
We then inhibited ourselves from handling any complaint from NBI Cavite out of delicadeza.
Second, I categorically deny that I got “infuriated” when they arrested a certain Edna Arayata. I also categorically deny that this Arayata is a cousin. This is the first time that I learned about the arrest. Surely, Mr. Villanueva cannot present any proof to show that I was “infuriated” because I never was and never will.
It is of public knowledge that I do not intercede for any relative in instances like this. In fact last year I even had my very own son arrested and jailed after a drunken stupor at Cavite, his very first offense. I even castigated the police officer who failed to arrest him at the first opportunity.
Third, I categorically deny that I promised to help whistle blower Peter Ignacio. Mr. Villanueva called him names such as “small-time crook” but he cannot categorically deny that Mr. Ignacio is his “kumpadreng buo” and that the latter once worked for him for several years as an NBI “confidential agent”. Can he explain the bank statements Mr. Ignacio exposed showing the money supposedly collected from illegal joints? Mr. Villanueva should be reminded that in crime investigation the most credible witnesses are the cohorts themselves of the masterminds.
Fourth, re the claim of Mr. Ignacio that he submitted to his superiors “material evidence to disprove the allegations”, it bears to stress here that not a single document was furnished to the undersigned to enable him to comment on it. What kind of investigation is this by the NBI?
Since last year I have been pestering ranking NBI officials about these complaints yet nothing has been done. It cannot be denied that there are other previous complaints against Mr. Villanueva pending before the NBI. He was sacked only after these issues came out of the press last June when it was already clear that Noynoy Aquino, whose campaign slogan was “Kung Walang Corrupt – Walang Mahirap”, is the country’s duly elected President.
Mr. Villanueva repeatedly tried to look for someone to convince me to have these issues settled amicably. Late last week he personally approached Bacoor municipal administrator Redel Dionisio telling him “nahihirapan na ako”. Let me assure Mr. Villanueva that there is nothing personal here. We only wanted to protect the name of the NBI which stands for Nobility, Bravery and Integrity and not for National Bureau of Inteligensia.
I hereby challenge Mr. Villanueva that we simultaneously undergo a lie detector test and let these questions be asked: a) Are you or are you not involved in extortion and protection rackets? b) Could you state from the bottom of your heart that the food you are feeding your children is from your honest labor?
I most respectfully plead that you publish this letter in the interest of fair play. Thank you very much and more power.