NBI says no planting of evidence in trader’s house

No planting of evidence.

An angry National Bureau of Investigation Director Reynaldo Wycoco ordered yesterday a probe into the case of businesswoman Edna Dolores despite denial of any wrongdoing by NBI agents who raided her house in Taguig last May 15.

Wycoco directed NBI assistant director Fermin Nasol to dig deeper into the complaints of Dolores that the NBI raiders "planted" evidence against her and demanded P500,000 in exchange for her freedom. The NBI director directed Nasol to submit his report "as soon as possible."

Superintendent Mel Mabilin, Wycoco’s aide said the NBI director was mad after getting wind of Dolores’ complaint. He summoned and berated lawyer Ruel Lasalla, head of the NBI Dangerous Drugs Division (DDD) for not fully updating him on the said operations, Mabilin told The STAR.

In a press statement, the NBI claimed that the raid conducted at Dolores’ residence at 93 N.P. Cruz St., in Barangay Ususan, Taguig last May 15 was a regular operation. It was covered by a search warrant issued by Judge Enrico Lanzanas of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 1. The NBI said that the raid was done in the presence of Dolores herself; her husband, Emmanuel, an engineer; her brother Maximino Marcelino and their two housemaids.

When confronted over the seizure of about 200 grams of shabu, Dolores said it could have been placed by anybody who frequented her house. However, she failed to identify any of them.

Barangay Chairman Daniel Castillo and Leopoldo Carlos, another barangay official signed their names on the evidence found at the suspects’ premises, the NBI pointed out. But Dolores presented witnesses Nelson Derilo and Arnold Bello, both claiming that they saw an NBI agent take out from his right front pocket "something colored white" wrapped in a transparent plastic sachet. The same person took a box from the shoe rack, placed the substance inside it and stepped out of the room, Derilo and Bello said.

Dolores was able to identify later the NBI agent who planted the evidence against her as Special Agent Dave Segunial, Mabilin said Segunial was assigned at the DDD.

According to Dolores, Segunial ordered her to take hold of the seized drugs but she refused. Her testimony was corroborated by Emmanuel and their two housemaids Ritchie Derpo and Lolita Letrodo. Dolores claimed the drugs was seized at Derpo’s room.

Aside from Derilo and Bello, Dolores has 23 other witnesses who testified that they have known her since childhood and that she has never been involved in peddling drugs. Castillo also issued a certification showing that she has no derogatory records at their barangay prior to May 15. — Non Alquitran