NBI-7 agents raid bogus bail bond company

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation 7 yesterday raided an office of bail bond firm situated just 30 meters away from the bureau’s regional office for allegedly issuing fake bail bonds.

NBI-7 Regional Director Max Salvador said their agents were armed with search warrant issued by Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio of Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Branch 209 in raiding the office of Anthony Espinosa and Larry Steve Dagal at the ground floor of Francesa Dawn Building, Orchid Street in Barangay Capitol Site.

“We implemented the search warrant but upon the arrival of our agents in the said building, it was padlocked. Maybe the owners, who manned the fake bail bond company, sensed that the NBI will be having an operation kasi mayron nang na arrested sa ibang lugar,” Salvador said.

Salvador said the Philippine Fire and Marine Insurance Corporation has lodged a complaint before the Anti-Fraud Division of the NBI Central Office against Espinosa and Dagal for allegedly using the corporation’s name in issuing bail bonds.

He said Espinosa and Dagal have no authority to use the name of Philfire because they are not accredited with the company.

The NBI regional director said Espinosa and Dagal may have violated Article 171 (falsification of a public document) and 172 (falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents) of the Revised Penal Code, for allegedly falsifying, possessing or controlling bail bonds without authority.

Salvador said that aside from Espinosa and Dagal in Cebu, Philfire also complained that there were people in other places, like Manila, Bicol and Davao who uses the insurance firm’s name in their illegal operations.

Salvador appealed to the public to make sure that the company they approached in applying for a bail bond for the release and temporary liberty of a person accused of a crime, is a legitimate one.

“Kailangan legitimate kasi if not the time na i-claim nila yung bail bond wala silang ma-claim kasi hindi legitimate or accredited yung company,” he said.

Aside from the computer sets and a typewriter, Salvador said they recovered documents as proof that some 10 accused have already posted the recommended bail for their criminal charges.

“We will verify if the signatures appeared in the documents were not forged,” Salvador said in Filipino.

He said that they will further investigate while their will coordinate with the Regional Trial Courts in Cebu City, considering that retired Judge Mienrado Paredes, Judge Manuel Patalinghung, Judge James Stewart Ramon Himalaloan, among others, had signed release orders for some accused with drug-related cases, attempted murder, theft and child abuse, after Espinosa and Dagal’s firm issued their bail bonds.

Salvador said after they return the search warrant before the sala of Judge Ignacio, they will file criminal complaint against Espinosa and Dagal.  (FREEMAN)