NBI steps into media exec’s death

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now conducting its own investigation into the death of magazine publisher Delia Gutierrez who was found dead over two months ago.

The probe seeks to dig deeper into the brutal slay after Makati City police tagged Gutierrez’s husband, Ibarra, as the possible killer based on the testimony of several witnesses and an autopsy report.

Ibarra’s lawyer said the NBI investigation was sought because he and the victim’s family refused to believe the Makati police’s findings that the husband was the suspect.

"We are seeking for the truth. The investigation seeks to ferret out the truth," lawyer Teddy Rigoroso told The STAR. He had earlier argued that the evidence against his client was circumstantial, pointing out that the husband worked in the same building. Delia was publisher and chairwoman of Media G8way Corporation.

Delia, 51, was found dead in the toilet of her office in Makati City last Sept. 6 with a lacerated throat and multiple stab wounds in different parts of the body.

Two months later, the Makati City police filed parricide charges against Ibarra, 57, editor-in-chief, president and chief executive officer of MGC.

The charge sheet which is now being evaluated by the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office to determine if a preliminary investigation and a trial are warranted.

Ibarra was allegedly the last person seen entering and leaving the victim’s office before and after she was killed.

The husband had told police investigators that his wife apparently committed suicide.

However, investigators said forensic evidence showed that the victim could not have killed herself. They also became suspicious of the husband because he refused to take a lie detector test.

Ibarra’s lawyer argued that the polygraph test was inconclusive and inadmissible in court as evidence.

Rigoroso protested charges against his client "The police was too focused on one angle," he said, adding that the NBI might do a better job in finding out what happened.

Rigoroso refused to speculate who wanted Delia dead. He added that the victim, who was also his client, had been anxious days before her death. "We want to know what was really disturbing her."