NBI agents face extort charges in rape case

An engineer accused of raping a 17-year-old nursing student filed charges of robbery, extortion and grave threats against three agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) and four other persons yesterday.

Engr. Robert Yee named as respondents Special Investigator Arnel Pura; investigation staff Xerxes Baladia; and Dr. Rene Cam. Also included were Cebu-based lawyer Mundlyn Misal-Martin and four other women.

He accused the agents of using the student’s sister to extort P3 million from him in exchange for dropping charges against him.

The charges were filed before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.

A separate complaint for malicious prosecution or incriminating an innocent person was lodged at the Talisay City Prosecutors’ Office.

Yee cooperated with police in arresting the student and her sister in an entrapment operation in Sept. 2009.

The student and her sister filed rape charges against Yee that was dismissed by the Cebu City Prosecutors Office for lack of probable cause.

Yee, a former confidential agent of NBI-7, later learned that the student was prodded by NBI-7 agents and the other respondents into demanding P3 million from him in exchange for dropping the charges.

Yee’s claims were bolstered by the statements of the victim and her sister who were allegedly requested by the respondents to fabricate stories against the engineer.

In an affidavit, the student said she was “coerced and induced” by the respondents to extort money from Yee and sign an erroneous complaint for rape against the engineer.

In a phone interview, Pura denied the allegations.

Pura said they can produce the student’s handwritten three-page affidavit Pura said Karla earlier sought the assistance of then Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Agnes Magpale for her case.

“How could she say she was intimidated? How could she be forced (in executing an affidavit against Yee?),” Pura said.

He said he is contemplating filing a perjury complaint against the persons who fabricated stories against him and other respondents.

Pura said he believed Yee decided to withdraw the charges he earlier filed against the student and her sister in exchange for a public apology.

“We will study the charges (filed against us). We will answer the allegations,” Pura said.

Other than the NBI-7 personnel, also named as respondents were private persons Joan Uy, Pamela Tallo, Merly Golosino, and Juniver Berdin.

Berdin is a friend of the NBI agents while the three women were supposed to be their girlfriends.

Martin assisted the student in filing the charges against Yee.

In Nov. 2009 the student accused Yee, whom she said was her sweetheart, of rape.

She said Yee courted her and promised to send her to school, but instead he molested her.

Yee said the student was only retaliating after she and her sister were caught in an entrapment operation when they allegedly tried to extort P3 million from him.

Yee said the girl got a scholarship through him as the president of a university’s alumni association.

However, he stopped sending her financial aid when she failed to achieve a grade point average of 1.5, a condition for his support.

The girl’s sister pleaded for him to reconsider, but Yee said he did not change his mind.

Yee said the student’s sister made up stories about his relationship with her, which he denied.