DOJ summons Gatdula, 12 others in frustrated murder case

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) summoned former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula and 12 others who were charged with frustrated murder in connection with the failed ambush of NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda last February.

Gatdula and fellow respondents were ordered to appear in the first hearing of the preliminary investigation on July 24 at 2:30 p.m. before the panel composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Gino Paolo Santiago and Rassendell Rex Gingoyon, and Prosecution Attorney Gerard Gaerlan.

In the subpoena issued yesterday, Gatdula’s group was directed to answer the allegation by submitting their counter-affidavit.

The NBI filed last week the complaint for two counts of frustrated murder under article 248 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Article 6 with treachery, evident premeditation and use of illegal firearms against Gatdula and the others before the DOJ for the botched ambush of Esmeralda and his brother, Police Officer 3 Nilo Esmeralda.

Gatdula was implicated in the case by retired police officer Perfecto Villanueva, who earlier admitted before the NBI that he was the one asked to lead the killing of Esmeralda.

Villanueva claimed that the former NBI official and his friend, businessman Tyrone Ng, connived with each other in plotting to kill Esmeralda.

Aside from Gatdula, Ng and Villanueva, named respondents in the complaint filed by the NBI before the DOJ were Ronnie Ong, Ramoso Ramos, who was the driver of the escape vehicle of the suspects during the ambush; Alfredo Compoc, triggerman Teodoro Abendano, Gerry Farillon, Jose Maglalang, Gino Eustagquio, Aljun Monticlaros, and Alvin Monticlaros.

Villanueva told probers that Gatdula and Ng planned the ambush of Esmeralda and his brother.

He claimed that Ng and Gatdula are close friends. Ng is an adopted mistah of Gatdula’s PMA class. He also identified Ng as a confidential agent of the NBI.

Villanueva told NBI probers that he was present during the almost weekly meetings of Ng and Gatdula, and that their concern was Esmeralda’s apparent effort in allegedly stalling the bureau’s payment to the service provider in the NBI clearance project.

Maglalang, one of the suspects, told investigators that the NBI allegedly owed Ng P150 million for services rendered.

It was alleged that the ambush might have something to do with the NBI clearance system contract since the alleged mastermind Ng is identified with Strategic and Comprehensive Consultants Inc. (SCCI), a firm that has a joint venture with Realtime Data Management Service Inc. (RDMS), the service provider of the bureau in the NBI clearance project.

The ambush occurred last Feb. 21 along Apacible street in Paco, Manila, near the house of Esmeralda while he and his brother Nilo, who is also assigned at the office of the NBI deputy director for technical services, were on their way home.

The camp of Gatdula had denied the charges.

His lawyer Abraham Espejo had said they have a “strong line of defense” to controvert all the allegations hurled against the former NBI director.