Court orders protection for former NBI chief, family

Former National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A temporary protection order was issued by a local court for former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula and his family.

Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Silvino Pampilo issued the order Thursday in response to Gatdula’s petition for a writ of amparo ordering Justice Secretary De Lima, NBI officer-in-charge Nonnatus Rojas and Reynaldo Esmeralda to “cease and desist from further threatening the life, liberty and security of petitioner and his family” and to restrain respondents from “framing up petitioner for the fake ambush incident by filing bogus charges of frustrated murder” against him.

In his order, Pampilo said there was basis for issuing the TPO following threats to Gatdula and his family.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Gatdula presented two witnesses showing that Esmeralda’s ambush was staged. He also submitted police report on the incident.

Esmeralda and his brother were ambushed in February by two men riding a motorcycle while travelling in a four-vehicle convoy along Apacible Street, Paco, Manila.

Esmeralda sustained minor injuries while his brother was hit by a bullet on the right shoulder.

De Lima, together with Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan attributed the ambush to the case of Japanese national Noriyo Ohara were Gatdula and several other ranking NBI officials were relieved amidst allegation of abduction and extortion.

The “ambush me” tag came up following reports that the crime scene was cleared immediately after the incident and Esmeralda managed to call De Lima a few minutes after the ambush.