Makati prosecutor clears NBI agent of graft charge

A Makati prosecutor has dismissed the charges against a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent who was accused of asking the police to release a drug suspect who happened to be his uncle.

In a five-page resolution released recently, Makati Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Joel Vedan said that members of the city police’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit failed to show that NBI Intelligence Officer 1 Monakiram Batabor violated Section 3(a) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He added that photos and video and audio recordings submitted by the police were not sufficient to show that Batabor had sought the release of his uncle, Manjale Currie.

Currie was arrested on Aug. 12 during a buy-bust operation inside a house on San Jose Street that was reportedly being used as a drug den.

According to the prosecutor, the photo and video merely proved that Batabor went to the house in Makati City where his uncle was arrested.

“While it is true that respondent appeared at that place, the video clipping is insufficient to show that he persuaded, induced or influenced any of them (police). As a relative of one of the arrested suspects, it was but natural for him to inquire what the incident was all about,” Vedan said.

He added that in the audio recording of a conversation between Batabor and a police office, the latter could be heard laughing, “thus negating the claim that she was intimidated by respondent.”