Mar to axed CIDG chief: Show proof vs NBI agents

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II ordered the senior police official who had accused agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of protecting two Chinese drug lords arrested in San Juan to present evidence of his allegations.

Roxas directed Senior Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, relieved chief of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Anti-Organized Crime Division, to show proof of his claim that some NBI agents were protecting the illegal drug operations of Chinese nationals Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Dy, and his wife Wang Li Na.

The couple were rearrested in their hideout in Infanta Subdivision in San Juan last July 13, about five months after they escaped from their escorts from the Cavite provincial jail.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III is calling for a Senate inquiry on the police operations against Chinese drug lords in San Juan last July 13, which is now subject of a word war between the NBI and CIDG.

Roxas said that whoever has the information about the alleged link of the NBI agents with the drug lords should come out with the evidence, noting that the mandate of the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is to go after criminals.

“If there are drug lords trying to influence government officials, they should be exposed,” said Roxas in a radio interview.

Roxas said he has also directed Espino to stop his word war with officials of the NBI and the Department of Justice, saying members of the government forces should not be bickering in public.

“We should not be fighting because we are two law and order agencies in the government. If the NBI and CIDG would continue this, where would ordinary people go to seek assistance,” said Roxas.

Sotto, former chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), lamented that the controversy has resulted in the heated public exchange between Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and top CIDG officials.

“It is demeaning,” said Sotto, who received conflicting versions of the controversial operations. “We should look into the bottom of all these,” he added.

Earlier, the NBI accused the CIDG men of pocketing P20 million and 80 kilos of shabu allegedly found in the possession of the Chinese suspects.

But CIDG officials claimed some NBI agents were seen at the Infanta Subdivision in San Juan City, where the Li couple was arrested early this month.

The other day, Senators Gregorio Honasan and Grace Poe also called for transparency in the ongoing probe. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Christina Mendez