Sacked NBI execs see relief as ‘total dismissal from bureau’
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Reynaldo Esmeralda, former NBI deputy director for Intelligence Service. FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Sacked ranking officials of the National Bureau of branded their relief from the NBI as a total “dismissal from the bureau.”
Reynaldo Esmeralda, former NBI deputy director for Intelligence Service, and Ruel Lasala, deputy director for Special Investigation Services, faced the media Friday, the same day they received their relief orders.
“We were given no reason why we were given such orders. We just want to clarify if we were relieved or dismissed,” Esmeralda said in Filipino.
But based on the written order by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the special investigation services director said that his “relief order” was tantamount to dismissal.
Disappointed with the order of De Lima, Esmeralda and Lasala took offense on their replacement even before they could vacate their position as deputy directors.
“With due respect to Secretary (De Lima)…We rose from our ranks. We have tenure of office. We are not like NBI directors they’d like to replace anytime,” Esmeralda said.
Esmeralda will be replaced by Lawyer Ricardo Pangan Jr. while Lawyer Antonio Pagatpat will take Lasala’s post.
For his part, Lasala said: “My belief was, if you’re hardworking and if you have the loyalty to your institution, your position in the bureau is secured.”
Asked if he wanted to seek clarification and explanation from De Lima, Lasala said he found no reason to talk to De Lima.
“There’s no need to talk. It’s clear enough to me that our replacement is an order of dismissal,” Esmeralda added.
Legal action
The former deputy directors said they consulted a legal team to come up with a legal action “that would assert our rights and status as NBI officials”, said Lasala, who served the NBI for three decades.
Esmeralda pointed out that the legal step they would take would not only benefit them but the entire institution.
“We will make sure also that in future events, at least we have settled a jurisprudence, wherein the bureau officials, the current officials and the appointing authorities will be guided by the definitive ruling of Supreme Court,” he said.
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