CA reinstates 2 sacked NBI officials

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the reinstatement of two National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials who were dismissed from the service by former justice secretary Leila de Lima over “integrity issues” related to the pork barrel scam.

In a 24-page resolution dated Sept. 20 and signed by Associate Justice Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura, the CA Special 14th Division reinstated lawyers Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala as deputy directors of the NBI.

The appeals court said Esmeralda and Lasala were illegally removed from their posts.

The CA noted that the reinstatement of Lasala is no longer possible as he has reached the mandatory retirement age on May 2.

However, he must be paid his back salaries from the time of his dismissal until his retirement.

The CA said Esmeralda should also receive full back wages, incentives, benefits and other monetary privileges.

The CA said the removal from office of Esmeralda and Lasala was “not based on a just cause and violated their constitutional right to security of tenure” under the Constitution and the Civil Service Law of 1987.

Esmeralda and Lasala were appointed deputy directors of the NBI by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

De Lima ordered the dismissal of the NBI officials in 2014. They were replaced by Deputy Directors Ricardo Pangan Jr. and Antonio Pagatpat.

Esmeralda and Lasala filed an appeal before the Office of the President under the administration of Rodrigo Duterte.

But their request was denied, prompting them to seek relief from the appellate court.

Esmeralda and Lasala were accused of informing pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles of her arrest in connection with the illegal detention case filed against her by whistle-blower Benhur Luy.