Kidnap victim welcomes NBI raps vs BI official

Kidnap victim Jackie Rowena Tiu lauded the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday for filing charges against six officers and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reportedly involved in the illegal deportation of one of seven suspects in her kidnapping case.

Tiu however said the NBI should have gone further by including "the bigger fish" in the charge sheet.

She said the illegal deportation of suspect Zhang Du to China last May 7 was not a simple case of a detainee escaping from the country but active connivance between prison guards and top immigration officials.

"A crime of this magnitude would not have been conducted without the involvement of the big bosses of the BI. More investigation must be conducted to get to the bottom of this grave anomaly. Further investigation should include the BI’s top brass," Tiu said.

Although grateful to the NBI for the speedy filing of the criminal complaint against the concerned immigration officials before the Office of the Ombudsman, Tiu claimed she could not shake off doubts on the investigation.

"I am very happy by how cooperative the NBI has been since day one. Every time they say that they would work on it and set deadlines, I see the results. But I think further investigation should be done on this because something is wrong, something is very wrong," she added.

Tiu said the NBI should have focused their investigation on who signed and ordered Zhang’s deportation order.

BI Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. claimed he was in France on the day that Zhang was illegally deported and pointed to his deputy as the officer-in-charge on the day of the supposed escape.

Tiu explained the possibility that the deportation order might have already been signed by Fernandez before he left for France.

Tiu also questioned the identities of the suspects included in the charge sheet of the NBI.

She also called for the immediate relief of BI Intelligence Division Chief Faizal Hussin and Superintendent Wendy Garcia Rosario, BI former acting chief of Civil Security Unit (CSU) for their actions.

She said they should remember that "with authority comes responsibility and accountability."

Named as respondents in the case are Hussin, Rosario, Senior Inspector Noel Campos Espinosa, former acting warden of BI-Bicutan Detention Center in Taguig, contractual confidential agent (CA) Alex Piñon Bolado, former CA Joselito Mati Pagaduan, assigned at the BDC, and Immigration Officer Allan Reyes, assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Also included in the charges were two Chinese nationals, namely Zhang’s wife Wen Yueming, alias Josie, and Sy.

Jayamaha Mudalege Don Keerthi Jamayaha, alias Keerthi, a detainee at the BI Detention Center, allegedly acted as a "go-between" for BI personnel and detainees seeking special favors. He was allegedly allowed to leave the BDC to process Zhang’s travel papers to China.

Charges of violating provisions of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, falsification of public documents, obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders were filed against all nine respondents.

Additional charges of conniving with or consenting to evasion were slapped against Hussin, Rosario, Espinosa, Bolado, Reyes and Pagaduan because they were public officials. They reportedly assisted in the escape of Zhang.