MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) allegedly involved in a kidnap for ransom activity.
In a nine-page decision released to the public Thursday, the Ombudsman told Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to immediately implement the order dismissing NBI Special Investigator III Junnel P. Malaluan.
The NBI is an attached agency of the DoJ.
Malaluan has been found guilty of grave misconduct.
The case stemmed from a letter sent by then NBI Director Nestor Mantaring, recommending the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Agent Malaluan for his alleged violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code for the kidnapping of one Panayangan Demasar.
On March 10, 2009, Demasar was forcibly abducted, dragged into a vehicle and physically assaulted. Later, agents introducing themselves as part of the PDEA called up Demasar’s wife and demanded P1M in exchange for his release. Negotiations took place until the amount was lowered to P340,000.00. It was then that the wife sought assistance from the PNP-Pacer group.
The agreed pay-off site for the ransom money was the NBI compound along Taft Avenue.
The Office of the Ombudsman based its decision on reports issued by the NBI Internal Affairs Division and the Pacer operatives.
In addition to his dismissal from the service, a criminal Information for Kidnapping for Ransom, a non-bailable offense, was filed earlier against Malaluan before the Regional Trial Court of Imus, Cavite.