No criminal complaint yet filed vs sacked NBI chief

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Magtanggol Gatdula. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – No criminal complaint against sacked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula has been filed, a ranking Department of Justice official said Thursday.

Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan at a press conference said a preliminary investigation against Gatdula could not proceed because no one has filed a complaint against him.

“We cannot start a preliminary investigation [because] as of now, there is no complaint against him [Gatdula]. The DoJ cannot be the complainant. [Noriyo] Ohara or the Marzans (Ohara’s foster family) should file the complaint,” Baraan said at a press conference.

President Benigno Aquino III dismissed Gatdula due to his involvement in the abduction of a Japanese national.

Gatdula has been replaced following the recommendation of the DoJ panel chaired by Baraan that he be subjected to a preliminary investigation for kidnapping and serious illegal detention under the Revised Penal Code following allegations abduction and extortion of Noriyo Ohara or Marife Laganas.

The case stemmed after Ohara was taken by the NBI last October 29. The foster family of Ohara said the NBI asked for P15 million in exchange for her release and for not initiating deportation proceedings against her.

Of the P15 million, P6 million was broken down and paid on October 29, November 2 and 9.

Ohara, an undocumented Japanese national, has been transferred to the Bureau of Immigration.