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MANILA, Philippines – A sacked official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), earlier rumored as having connections with alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, turned the tables on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. He identified her ex-husband, as well as a current and a former NBI executive, as having met with Napoles.
Former NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said on Wednesday, March 26, that NBI Deputy Director for Regional Services Rafael Ragos and former NBI chief Nonnatus Rojas were among those who met with Napoles on May 23, 2013 at the office of Rojas.
Esmeralda added that Napoles was accompanied by 3 lawyers including Plaridel Bohol, the estranged husband of Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima, and Freddie Villamor. Esmeralda failed to name the third lawyer.
The sacked official said 3 NBI agents have confirmed the August 2013 meeting with Napoles. He said one agent, who was Rojas’ chief of staff at that time, even remembers shaking hands with Napoles.
In an interview Wednesday, de Lima refused to comment on her ex-husband’s alleged meet-up at the NBI so as not to “preempt the investigation” of the NBI adhoc committee.
Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, both former NBI deputy directors, were recently replaced by two new presidential appointees coming from NBI regional offices upon the recommendation of de Lima. The NBI is an agency under the DOJ. (READ: PNoy appoints 4 NBI deputy directors, replaces 2)
De Lima earlier said she recommended the relief of the two deputy directors because of “lingering integrity issues” that would block reforms being pursued by the new leadership.
The NBI is now headed by veteran field investigator and lawyer Virgilio Mendez.
Not just Napoles
Lasala, for his part, said they will invoke their right to bring the matter on their dismissal to a higher body.
“We are applying appropriate legal action on our dismissal not just for ourselves but for the more than 3 million government employees” said Lasala in Filipino, commenting on what he believes was undue dismissal.
A CCTV footage was also presented Wednesday during the ad hoc committee showing Napoles in the NBI premises. The stamp date on the footage however, showed September 10 and not May 23, 2013.
Esmeralda said the meeting occurred May 23, as Napoles was already under police custody by August 2013.
“Because it appears that the reason behind our dimissal from the NBI is the allegation that we met with Napoles. So we were patient evaluating the CCTV footage,” Lasala said in Filipino.
But De Lima earlier said the two officials’ rumored connection with Napoles is just one of the reports that made her “morally convinced” about the “integrity issues” hounding the former NBI executives. She, however, admitted that the allegation is not backed up by any concrete evidence.
Esmeralda and Lasala earlier denied to De Lima they had tipped off Napoles about her arrest warrant ordered by the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Aug 15, 2013.
The Makati RTC issued Napoles’ warrant of arrest over her alleged involvement in the alleged illegal detention of Benhur Luy, principal state witness on the cases related to the illegal siphoning of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
The diversion of lawmakers’ PDAF to bogus projects was allegedly masterminded by Napoles, whose NGOs served on paper as fund beneficiaries.
The sham was exposed by Luy, who was rescued by agents of the NBI in March 2013, following his detention. – Rappler.com
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