NBI probes NBN-4 fund mess

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) began last Thursday an investigation into an alleged fraudulent deal involving a television shopping program aired over the state-run National Broadcasting Network (NBN) channel 4 from December 2008 to November 2009, an official said yesterday.

In a statement to The STAR from Homer Banda, president of the People’s Television Employees Association, he said those subpoenaed for questioning were concerned NBN division managers and himself as NBN labor union president.

Banda said he adopted a complaint on the alleged fraud submitted earlier by former network general manager Jose Isabelo to NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula. Both Isabelo and Gatdula could not be reached for comment.

He said newly-appointed general manager Renato Calauag is expected to open a network-wide investigation regarding another case – the alleged diversion of the network’s technical equipment and property to affiliate stations, estimated to be worth millions of pesos, with papers documenting the diversion.

Banda said in his statement that the alleged diversion is a clear violation of NBN’s policies and regulations. He said managers and personnel from the provincial and engineering divisions could be summoned.

The union, Banda said, has signified full cooperation to the expected investigation by the new management team headed by Calauag.