Ex-NBI director Gatdula appears at DoJ

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

MANILA, Philippines—Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Magtanggol Gatdula for the first time appeared before the Department of Justice (DoJ) panel investigating the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case against him in connection with the abduction of Japanese national Noriyo Ohara.

Gatdula appeared with his lawyer Abraham Espejo. He personally subscribed his rejointed affidavit before State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Irwin Maraya.

At the same time, Gatdula also asked the DoJ panel to remove from the records of the case the testimony of witness and co-respondent Jose Odellon Cabillan, former NBI-Security Management Division Executive Officer.

Espejo said Cabillan failed to appear before the panel to subscribe his testimony linking Gatdula to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

“Kung ang star witness mo ayaw manumpa, pwede ba yun gagawa ka ng kwento tapos di ka magpapakita. May certification ang DoJ na si Cabillan ay hindi kasama sa Witness Protection Program. This means ordinary witness sya. Bakit ayaw nyang manumpa? We are very happy that things turned out this way,” Espejo said adding that this is like a knockout in favor of Gatdula.

Gatdula’s camp also filed manifestations of 4 witnesses to prove Ohara was not held against her will by NBI operatives during the instances she went to the NBI headquarters in Manila.

“She was smiling upon entering the former Director’s office, she was even accompanied by a Japanese police. At no point was she held against her will as she later claimed… Ano ito, kidnap me?” Espejo said.

Both the complainant and respondents will be given 20 days to submit their respective memoranda upon receipt of the panel’s ruling on Gatdula’s motion to expunge Cabillan’s counter-affidavit.