2 NBI execs axed over extortion rap

Two officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been placed on floating status over reports that they extorted money from the Filipino foster family of a Japanese woman who was arrested for being an illegal alien.

In an order issued on Monday, NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula ordered the relief of Security Management Division (SMD) chief Mario Garcia and his executive officer, Jose Odellon Cabillan.

NBI spokesman Cecilio Zamora Jr. told reporters Tuesday that the two officials were ordered to report to NBI Deputy Director for Administrative Services Rickson Chiong.

Replacement named

In addition, Gatdula appointed head agent Arnold Lazaro of the NBI Research Analysis Division as Garcia’s replacement.

At the same time, the NBI chief ordered Chiong to conduct an investigation of the allegations against Garcia and Cabillan.

Zamora said that Gatdula’s orders were based on reports that the two officials had asked the foster family of Noriyo Ohara for P100 million in exchange for her release. The amount was eventually whittled down to P15 million after negotiations.

The 32-year-old Japanese woman was arrested by NBI agents in Pangasinan on October 29 for being an illegal alien.

According to the Marzans, her foster family in Bugallon, Pangasinan, Ohara came to the Philippines because she was escaping from the Yakuza, which had killed her father and was now after her.

The Marzans sought the help of Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo after they turned over P6 million in installments to SMD employees, including Garcia and Cabillan.

Tulfo later forwarded the complaint to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who had ordered an investigation into the Marzan family’s complaint.

She also directed the NBI to turn over Ohara to the immigration bureau since she is an illegal alien.

Instead of complying, the NBI took Ohara to the Japanese Embassy last Monday, according to Tulfo.