NBI summons cops, reporter in Barbers kidnap try

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) summoned the two policemen and a radio reporter involved in the supposed botched kidnapping of Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Robert Dean Barbers last Feb. 10.

NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said subpoenas have been sent to Police Officer 3 Noel Quizana and PO1 Arnel Macalintal, of the Batangas provincial police, along with Ben Aclan of the Batangas Radio Action Center to verify the conflicting statements over the claims made by Barbers of a foiled kidnap try on him and his family.

"We would conduct a background check on the suspects and check if there had been similar reports of ‘quickie robbery’ incidents during the past few weeks.

"We also want to determine the whereabouts of the firearms that the suspects were reportedly caught on camera brandishing at Barbers," Esmeralda said.

Police denied the allegations of Barbers of a kidnap try on him, saying it was only a simple misunderstanding over a traffic violation.

Barbers, with his wife and three children, were on board a Ford Explorer (XCF-938) when Police Officer 1 June Virtucio and companions blocked his path and demanded the PTA chairman to come out of the van.

Barbers and his family were on their way to a beach resort in Mabini, Batangas when the incident happened.

Esmeralda said the NBI wanted to know if the firearms, which included an M-16 rifle and a Daewoo 9 mm. pistol, allegedly used by the policemen are still in the custody of the Batangas provincial police.

He also wanted to be enlightened on the true intentions of the policemen.

"If they wanted to apprehend Barbers for an offense then they should have brought him to the police station and not hesitate and run away when they saw the reporter (Aclan) taking pictures of the incident," Esmeralda said.

The two policemen and Aclan were asked to appear before the NBI on Tuesday afternoon to give their side of the story.

The findings of the NBI would also help determine the nature of the case which Barbers intends to file.

Barbers maintained a Ford Laser with no plate number tried to block their path during the incident.

He became suspicious when the Ford Laser slowed down so he decided to steer to the right on road shoulder to overtake the vehicle.

The car gave chase until the suspects on board a Mitsubishi Adventure blocked their path.

Several armed them reportedly approached his car and ordered him to step out at gunpoint, he said.

It was at this juncture when Aclan arrived and started taking a video of the scene.

The men reportedly claimed that they were on a legitimate police operation but suddenly withdrew when Aclan introduced himself as a reporter.

Barbers proceeded to the Bauan police station to report the incident and there saw Virtucio.

He later identified his cohorts as Airman 2nd Class Nino Virtucio, and an alleged member of the Batangas City Intelligence, Noel Virtucio.

The police, however, gave a different version, saying that it was a case of "road rage" committed by Barbers who hit Nino on the nape during a traffic altercation. This prompted Nino to call for backup and report the incident to the Batangas Police which sent out a flash alarm for the vehicle.

In a blotter report at the nearby San Jose police station, Virtucio claimed he was on board his Ford Laser when Barbers alighted from his Ford Explorer SUV and punched the back of his head.

Barbers denied the allegations. "I was with my family at that time. Why would I risk my three daughters life over a traffic altercation with armed men?" he said.