DOJ: New leads in Esmeralda ambush probe

MANILA, Philippines - There are significant leads in the investigation of the slay attempt on National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director for technical services Reynaldo Esmeralda, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

She said investigators are still confirming the leads they have on the identities of Esmeralda’s attackers, but refused to disclose other developments in the case.

“It would be preemptive of the outcome of certain operations that would be undertaken by the investigators,” De Lima said.

Two men on a motorcycle shot at the dark green Land Cruiser driven by Esmeralda’s bodyguard-driver, Senior Police Officer 1 Danilo Ostia, who is assigned to the Philippine National Police-Police Security and Protection Group (PNP-PSPG).

The NBI official and his brother, SPO1 Nilo Esmeralda, also with the PNP-PSPG and detailed as his escort, were in the Land Cruiser during the attack.

The NBI deputy chief suffered head injuries while his brother sustained a gunshot wound in the right shoulder, Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5 commander Superintendent Ricardo Layug said.

De Lima said the pace of the investigation should be swift, noting that President Aquino “also wants to know what this ambush was all about... who could be behind it.”

No need to say sorry

De Lima said there is no reason for her to apologize after dismissed NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula cried foul over insinuations he could have had a hand in the ambush.

“I never pointed fingers at the former director... What I said was it’s too early to tell or to draw conclusions on who could be involved,” she said.

De Lima said she “had to inform the public that there are indeed security threats against our officials, even against me. And the officials who were being threatened are those involved in the Ohara investigation.”

Esmeralda linked his ambush to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case involving Noriyo Ohara, an undocumented Japanese woman, which resulted in Gatdula’s dismissal.

Ohara accused NBI operatives of extorting P6 million from her in exchange for her release.

De Lima said she talked about the Ohara case in the interest of full disclosure and transparency. “There are threats against DOJ officials and then all of a sudden, we have this kind of incident, ambush on a top official,” she said.

Gatdula and his lawyer, Abraham Espejo, have denied talk that he is behind the ambush.

Back to work

Esmeralda, who was discharged from the Manila Doctor’s Hospital at around 2:30 p.m. yesterday, denied anew that he staged his own ambush.

 “It’s very clear who’s telling the truth... no need to elaborate,” said Esmeralda, who was fetched by his colleagues at the NBI, led by deputy director for intelligence services Ruel Lasala.

Esmeralda said he will go home first and immediately go back to work at the NBI to help track down his attackers. He said he needs to go back to the hospital for check-ups as pieces of shrapnel are still embedded in his head. His brother will undergo further surgery.

Cops form task group

The MPD formed yesterday a task group to investigate the Feb. 20 ambush on Esmeralda.

MPD public information head Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said there is a sketch being made of Esmeralda’s attackers and they will soon release it.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Alan Purisima said he was told Gatdula and Esmeralda have a good working relationship. When asked who could have wanted Esmeralda dead, Purisima said “what I know is Esmeralda has earned a lot of enemies because of his work at the NBI. And all of them are now suspects in the case.” – With Non Alquitran, Reinir Padua