Raps poised against seven PAOCTF men

The National Bureau of Investigation will file four criminal and administrative charges against the seven agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force involved in a questionable raid in Parañaque City last year, should they still fail to present themselves for questioning today.

NBI National Capital Region chief Samuel Ong said they are giving the seven agents until 4 p.m. today to submit themselves for questioning or face charges in the Department of Justice.

Meanwhile, PAOCTF chief Director Hermogenes Ebdane clarified that his office has been coordinating with the NBI on any case that might involve the seven agents, either the abduction of PR man Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito or any other case.

To clarify matters, Ebdane said ". . . these agents sent their respective legal counsels to represent them; thus, their non-appearance does not imply they are in hiding. Such legal representation is within their constitutional rights, especially when their names have been dragged into this controversy," in a letter to The STAR.

Ebdane assured the public that the PAOCTF is committed to see justice for Dacer and his family as well as other families victimized by crime. "And we are working towards that justice," he said.

A ranking PAOCTF official added that the agents do not want to be placed on trial by publicity because "accusations that would link them to the Dacer abduction are grave and serious."

Police sources added the agents’ lawyers sent a letter to NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco yesterday regarding the group’s concern about reports linking them to the Dacer case.

The NBI-NCR had summoned Police Inspector Wilson Pedido, SPO4 Willy Nuas, PO3 Roco Matic, PO3 Edmund Gacuti, SPO2 Gomercito Cagnayo, Inspector Dionisio Bonoy and SPO1 Adelaido Celarco, in connection with a raid they conducted last Nov. 21 at 3934 Marigold st. in Sun Valley Subdivision.

The raided abandoned house was allegedly the safehouse of a car theft ring and is near the house of Dacer.

Dacer and Corbito were snatched by unidentified armed men at the corner of Zobel Roxas and Sergio Osmeña Highway on Nov. 24 of last year.

According to the NBI the agents told the Court later than the raid yielded negative results despite documents secured by the bureau which showed that the raiders were able to confiscate several car license plates, a 9 mm pistol, 10 grams of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

The questionable result of the raid fueled suspicions from some sectors that the supposed raid could have been merely used by the raiders as cover for their surveillance of Dacer. But the NBI still refused to comment categorically whether its investigation of the PAOCTF agents is related to its probe on Dacer’s abduction.

"We are not clearing anybody. I am not saying that they are involved or they are not involved. As of now they are just being investigated for the raid which just happens to be near the house of Bubby Dacer," said Wycoco.

To be filed by the NBI against the seven PAOCTF agents and three other John Does are charges for obstruction of justice, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act and Malversation of Public Funds (for failure to surrender the 9 mm pistol which became public property, according to the NBI).

Aside from the seven PAOCTF agents who are all detailed with the PAOCTF Task Force Luzon, the NBI has also summoned four more PAOCTF agents in connection with the raid. The NBI is withholding the names of the four other agents.

"We are giving them the opportunity to explain themselves. If they refuse to take this opportunity, that is their choice. Should they continue to ignore our subpoena, we have no choice but to file the charges against them," Ong said.

According to the NBI, the PAOCTF, through its lawyers had requested that the seven PAOCTF agents be questioned as a group during a one-day appearance at the bureau. The request, however, was rejected by Ong who stressed that it was important for them that the accused agents be questioned one at time.