NBI exec axed over party shootout

MANILA, Philippines -  Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered yesterday the relief of an official of the National Bureau of Investigation following a shootout between two agents during a heated confrontation in a birthday party at the NBI headquarters in Manila Friday night.

She said NBI regional director for National Capital Region (NCR) Manuel George Juralbal should be held accountable for the incident involving agents Joselito Guillen and Nestor Pascual.

In an interview, De Lima said drinking alcohol inside the NBI premises was a grave violation on the part of NBI-NCR division officials and agents.

“There’s some level of command responsibility on his part. He should have ensured that there would be no alcoholic drinks during that time,” she told reporters.

De Lima said this is why she and NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas agreed to relieve Juralbal, the two agents involved and all agents and employees present during the incident.

She expressed disappointment over the incident since responsible gun ownership is still a sensitive issue, and much is expected from the agency with the recent spate of crimes.

Initial investigation showed that Pascual and Guillen were attending A birthday party in their office.

The agents engaged in heated discussions on some topics, including a planned revamp that was supposed to take effect before the Commission on Elections ban on the reshuffling of personnel.

When Guillen tried to pacify Pascual, the latter reportedly pulled out a handgun and shot Guillen.

Guillen sustained gunshot wounds during the incident and is now recovering in the hospital. On the other hand, a case has been filed against Pascual.

In August last year, a similar incident happened in the NBI-NCR division. Special Investigator Honorato Ocampo was shot dead by security personnel Oscar Cabebe, after a heated confrontation. The two were also drunk at the time.