DOJ to probe 2 top NBI execs’ link with Janet

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will look into a report that two top officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had met with suspected pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles before she was arrested last year.

“I will have that checked,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

De Lima was reacting to the claims of NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, who were dismissed from their posts last week due to “lingering integrity issues,” linking two other officials of the NBI to Napoles.

Esmeralda said they have evidence, including CCTV footage, to prove their claim.

Esmeralda revealed that when integrity issues against them cropped up last year with the President even publicly warning NBI officials who aided Napoles in evading arrest, he conducted an investigation on the matter himself.

“I found out who these NBI officials were who talked to Napoles both inside and outside the premises of the bureau,” he said.

Esmeralda said the meetings between Napoles and the two NBI officials who he said were “close to the secretary of justice” took place at a five-star hotel and a restaurant.

He refused to give further details about the NBI officials, but hinted the “one is higher than us and no longer with the bureau” while the other is “in the same level as ours.”

Esmeralda said they are also willing to reveal the details before the Senate inquiry on the pork barrel scam “in the name of truth.”

The two sacked NBI officials raised the issue when they questioned the recommendation of De Lima for their dismissal, which was approved by President Aquino.

While they did not name names, reports pointed to resigned NBI director Nonnatus Rojas and deputy director Rafael Ragos.

Rojas admitted talking to Napoles inside his office last year, but stressed it had nothing to do with the pork barrel scam.

“Janet Napoles, accompanied by her lawyer, went to the NBI office way back before her warrant of arrest was issued during the pendency of the serious illegal detention case and were advised of the status of their case,” Rojas said in a statement.

Ragos, on the other hand, has yet to respond to the allegation.

But for De Lima, the motive of Esmeralda’s revelations could be in question.

“Why did they bring this up just now? I’ve heard about it already before, but they never brought that up to me,” she asked.

De Lima said the sacked officials seemed to have deliberately withheld evidence.     

She added there is nothing wrong with Esmeralda and Lasala bringing their case before the Supreme Court.

“It’s within their rights to seek legal recourse. But I hope they understand that they are presidential appointees who serve at the pleasure of the President and the President has absolute prerogative to do that,” she said.

De Lima cited “lingering integrity issues” that supposedly tarnished the “totality of their reputation” as reason for the dismissal of Esmeralda and Lasala.

She said she was morally convinced that most of the allegations she received against Esmeralda and Lasala had basis, although she admitted there was no concrete proof of the charges.