CIDG-NBI war rages

MANILA, Philippines - The word war between the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) escalated yesterday after a CIDG official accused the bureau of protecting Chinese drug lords.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was irked by the allegations of Senior Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, former chief of the CIDG’s anti-organized crime division. She dared the official to identify the NBI agents whom he accused of protecting the drug lords. “Otherwise, they should shut up,” De Lima said.

Earlier, the NBI accused the CIDG men of pocketing P20 million and 80 kilos of shabu allegedly found in the possession of Chinese drugs lord Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Dy, and his wife Wang Li Na.

Espino claimed some NBI agents were seen at the Infanta Subdivision in San Juan City, where the Li couple were arrested last July 13.

He said an NBI agent scolded the subdivision security guard when a group of people soliciting money knocked on 311-A Infanta Street, the address of the house rented by the Chinese couple.

De Lima said she could not understand the attack against the NBI as she noted that the bureau is investigating questionable circumstances behind the arrest of the Chinese couple, and the killing of Cadavero and Panogalinga.

She said the bureau should be left alone to freely investigate these incidents.

“Can we allow the NBI first to perform their duties and complete the investigation on these high-profile and sensitive cases? Let us not throw mud at them now because they’re busy with these big cases,” she said.

Espino admitted they could not provide names and dates when the agents visited the Lis. He said he is revealing the information to emphasize that the NBI agents tasked to investigate the CIDG officers have links with the drug suspects.

“We are willing to be investigated, but we hope those who will investigate us are clean. We are hoping for a fair and honest investigation,” Espino said.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima is not buying Espino’s allegation, as he questioned the timing of his revelation.

“Why is he is saying it only now? It appears to be an afterthought. My advice for him is to answer the charges against him. They should have presented video footage during their operation to prove their innocence,” Purisima said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Aie Balagtas See