The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continues to pursue leads in identifying the prime mover operator, port guards and the masterminds involved in what Customs district collector Billy Bibit described as an "isolated case" of syndicated cargo theft ever to have hit the Port of Cebu.
The other day, the NBI filed charges of theft against reach stacker operator Arnold Glo—dove, transtainer operator Arnel Ondoy and cargo checker Fernando Feliciano, all employees of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (Opascor).
Opascor is the sole cargo handling service provider for foreign cargoes at the Cebu International Port, whose contract was renewed to 10 years since February this year.
Also charged with theft were Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service errand boy Rustico Fernandez and alleged bagman Winley de la Fuente.
A bail of P40,000 was recommended for each of the respondents.
Adolfo de la Fuente, father of Winley and Bobby, also filed a petition for habeas corpus for the release of Winley, who the NBI has placed under its custody since Sunday.
Adolfo said his sons visited the NBI office on Sunday to clear allegations that they were involved in the disappearance of the two vans.
But after questioning by acting NBI regional director Reynaldo Esmeralda and agents Nelson Bartolome, Renan Oliva and Arnel Pura, Adolfo said Winley was placed under arrest.
Apparently, the arrest was made when Glodove, Ondoy and Fernandez positively identified Winley as the one who allegedly paid them in moving out two of 10 container vans reportedly seized for containing smuggled shipment. Bobby was cleared of the accusations because the three could not be certain about his involvement.
During the interrogation, Winley denied that he had any hand in syndicated cargo theft or "swing" operations.
But in the barrage of questions, Winley later reportedly said that he was "commissioned" by a certain Allen to arrange with people inside the port who could be paid to pull off the heist.
Still, Adolfo asserted in his motion that Winley "did not commit any offense for which he may be arrested or deprived of his liberty without any formal charge or judicial warrant."
Interestingly, Feliciano, whose name surfaced only the other day, actually executed his affidavit with the NBI last Sept. 11.
In his affidavit, Feliciano said Glodove allegedly handed him P4,500 as part of a deal to move out the vans. He claimed that the money came from De la Fuente.
Four Customs policemen have denied any involvement in the disappearance of the two vans.
In affidavits they executed with the NBI the other day, Customs policemen Morie Velez, Antonio Quioco and Noe Figura said they were not assigned to guard the vans when the theft happened.
Andie Castre, the Customs policeman who was on duty on the night the vans were spirited out, said he discovered the vans were missing during a routine ocular inspection. — Freeman News Service