MANILA, Philippines--An officialof the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Tuesday said the parents of Jason Ivler may be held liable for obstruction of justice in connection with the murder of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., the son of a Malacañang official.
Angelito Magno, chief of the NBI Special Action Unit, said they received information that it was Marlene Aguilar, Ivler?s mother, who had ordered the transfer of a Honda CRV to a house in SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City where it was later found by NBI and police operatives.
Ebarle, the son of Presidential Chief of Staff Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr., was shot to death with a .45 caliber pistol after his Toyota Land Cruiser almost collided with the CRV allegedly driven by Ivler at the corner of Boni Serrano and Granada Streets in Quezon City on Nov. 18.
Witnesses said Ivler got off the CRV (with diplomatic license plate 20903) and shot the victim repeatedly before escaping.
?We?re still evaluating her possible liability, if it will fall under the circumstances of obstruction of justice. We have to know what her motive was if she indeed ordered the vehicle?s transfer,? Magno said.
He added that Asian Development Bank consultant Stephen Pollard, Ivler?s stepfather, was also not yet off the hook, saying they were still determining his possible liability should it be proven that he has been coddling Ivler.
Pollard earlier went to the NBI office to deny that he was protecting his stepson. According to his lawyer, Alexis Medina, ?Pollard has no knowledge of the whereabouts of Jason. They have not communicated. They hardly see each other.?
Pollard, however, admitted that he dined with Ivler at around 7 p.m. on Nov. 18, hours before the shooting.
In another development, the Bureau of Immigration Tuesday placed Ivler on its watch list to prevent him from leaving the country.
Immigration Commission Marcelino Libanan also directed Ferdinand Sampol, chief of the airport operations division and immigration supervisors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Laoag International Aiport, Mactan International Airport and Davao International Aiport to immediately implement the order against Ivler.
?The suspect is a flight risk, and poses an immediate danger to everyone and we should take every measure to prevent him from leaving the country,? Libanan said in his order.
The Quezon City Police District has already filed a murder complaint with the Quezon City Prosecutor?s Office against Ivler, an American citizen, for the death of Ebarle Jr.
According to Magno, the NBI has launched a manhunt for Ivler, whose picture has already been forwarded to the bureau?s regional offices.
?We have to be alert and closely watch our ports and all possible exits he could use to escape. Remember, he attempted to escape before when he was charged in another case,? Magno said, adding that Ivler was being considered ?armed and dangerous.?
Ivler, he said, has an outstanding warrant of arrest for the death of Nestor Ponce, another Malacañang undersecretary, in 2004.
Ponce was killed when Ivler, who was behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado, crashed into the victim?s vehicle on the C-5 flyover in Pasig City.
A Pasig City court subsequently charged Ivler with Ponce?s death.
?They [Ivler?s camp] have filed a petition to lift the warrant even before the incident involving Ebarle happened,? Magno said.
He added that they were still checking reports that Ivler might have already left the country and whether he served in the United States Army.
Meanwhile, the police have asked the US Embassy to confirm whether or not Ivler was an American citizen.
?We have communicated with the US Embassy to get confirmation of his citizenship and at the same time requested for criminal records, if any,? Chief Supt. Elmo San Diego, Quezon City Police District director, said.
He explained that they got in touch with the embassy to ensure that Ivler would not be able to leave the country since a hold departure order had been issued against him in connection with Ponce?s death.
