NBI-7 files raps vs bank executive

CEBU, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas has filed a case against a manager of a major commercial bank in Barangay Apas, Cebu City for obstruction of justice.

NBI-7, in a statement, said it filed a case against certain Lorelei Ontanillas after she “repeated refused” to provide authorities the surveillance camera footage.

The footage, NBI said, would aid the office in its investigation into an individual who withdrew a large sum of money from the account of one Oniel Natividad, who was abducted last year.

The case was filed Tuesday, October 26,2021.

It was earlier reported that Natividad was abducted by armed and hooded male individuals on November 24, 2020 while purchasing food along V. Rodriguez Street in Cebu City. Natividad’s family was then waiting for him inside their car that was parked across the street during the incident.

"The following day, November 25,2020, a withdrawal had been made, followed by another withdrawal two days after using the ATM of the victim," read the NBI-7 statement.

In hopes to find the principal abductor, NBI-7 said the bank’s closed-circuit television camera could have captured the perpetrators and may lead its agents in their investigation.

The NBI then sent letters of request and subpoenas to Ontanilla as the bank manager for the provision of the said CCTV footage along with the information where these withdrawals have been made.

"But these were summarily refused citing the provisions under the Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits, General Banking Law and Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines," the NBI-7 statement further read.

However, NBI Legal Divisions in Manila said the citations provided by Ontanilla “are untenable”.

NBI-7 said the law expressly refers to deposits not to the identity, nationality or residence of the depositors.

“Perusal of the said banking laws, however, would show that what is being prohibited is the inquiry or investigation into the very nature of such deposit or investment made in transacting persons captured by the ATM of the subject bank,” it said.

It added that NBI-7 was not asking for the deposit information of Oniel, but rather the CCTV footage to identify who made the cash withdrawals.

As of this writing, Natividad remains missing. — KQD (FREEMAN)