NBI probes PBA employees, officials after fake document leak

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), owing to a PBA Board resolution, is investigating PBA employees and officials to find out how an official’s fake diploma was leaked to the media, league media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed Wednesday, March 23. 

Around 8 to 10 employees have already been probed, according to Marcial, out of a total 38. That number also includes PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa. Employees and officials are called by batch to the NBI office. 

“Lahat kami pwede kami tawagin any time, kahit si commissioner (Any one of us can be summoned, even the commissioner),” Marcial told Rappler. 

Members of the PBA Board of Governors, who requested for the probe, are not classified as PBA employees or officials, and are not in the PBA office every day.

The length of the investigation depends on the NBI, Marcial said. He also said further actions will be decided upon once a conclusion to the probe has been made. 

The investigation comes after the controversy involving PBA marketing head Rhose Montreal, who was found to have falsified her college diploma, claiming she was a graduate of the University of the Philippines with cum laude honors. 

Copies of the diploma were uploaded on social media. (READ: TIMELINE: PBA and the Rhose Montreal controversy)

Montreal resigned soon after but has since been rehired after she reapplied for her old position. Her application was accepted on the condition she forfeit all her previous benefits, which reportedly amounts to more than a million pesos, and start over on a 6-month probationary period, PBA commissioner and San Miguel governor Robert Non told media at a press briefing. 

A league statement on Montreal’s rehiring released on March 7 said her application was approved “primarily, among others, for humanitarian reasons because of her exemplary performance.” – Rappler.com