PolEco: NBI's True Color Exposed - from Mon Tulfo's Column in PDI

A column by Ramon Tulfo at the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Dec 10, 2011 on NBI's latest activity exposing their true color.

Director Magtanggol Gatdula of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) admits some administrative and operational lapses in the handling of Noriyo Ohara, a Japanese woman, arrested by his men for being an undocumented alien.
Ohara, 32, was in the custody of the NBI for 38 days until this column exposed her illegal arrest and detention.
She is now in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration.
Gatdula says he approves all mission orders given to NBI operatives upon the recommendation of one of his six deputy directors.
“In the case of the Security Management Division (SMD) which is the subject of your series of columns, no (mission order) was prepared and submitted to my end. In this regard, my office had no knowledge of such an operation. Neither approval nor sanction was sought from me in this particular case,” said the NBI chief in a letter to this columnist.
The SMD secures the NBI premises and facilities including its jails. Its members are not allowed to go on missions because they function as security guards of the bureau.
The SMD’s Mario Garcia, who has since been relieved as its chief, apparently led the operation to arrest Ohara without any authority from the NBI director.
Garcia and his assistant chief, Jose Odellon Cabillan, allegedly received an initial P6 million from Ohara’s foster family in exchange for her freedom.
They were demanding P15 million for her release, but reneged on their promise and demanded more money prompting Ohara’s foster family to seek my help.
Ohara’s arrest and detention has brought shame to the country’s premier law-enforcement agency for its brazenness.
The Japanese woman was held for more than a month without a case being filed against her.
Besides, arresting undocumented or overstaying aliens is not the job of the NBI but of the immigration bureau.
“I categorically deny any knowledge or involvement, whatsoever, of any or all allegations of illegal activities including extortion. Meanwhile, all those named in the regrettable incident are now the subject of an administrative probe,” said the NBI chief.
Gatdula’s admission of operational and administrative lapses is a positive step towards ridding the bureau of its rogue members.
He should bring the NBI back to its former glory.