NBI files serious illegal detention case vs Roberto Ongpin

Roberto V. Ongpin FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed with the Department of Justice a criminal complaint against business tycoon Roberto Ongpin and 11 others for allegedly detaining one of his employees for allegedly stealing funds from the company.

Aside from Ongpin, facing a case for serious illegal, grave coercion and robbery detention are Michael Angelo Patrick Asperin alias Mike; Josephine Manalo; Ma. Natalia Cristina Manalo Dalupan; Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, all from the Executive Office Alphaland; Atty. Carlo Bautista of Philweb Corporation; Rogelio Sulit, a security personnel of Alpha Force Security Agency; Jerry Penaflorida, Jigsaw Cartas, Col. Gregor Mendel Panelo and Roderico Arellano Bautista, all from Alpha Force Securityy Agency. On the other hand, Carlito Sobrevega, flight dispatcher of Alphaland Aviation, is included in the complaint as an accessory. Sobrevega is facing a separate complaint for falsification of official document.

In his complaint, Eduveges Batalan, who works for Philweb Corporation, said he was taken to Balesin Island Resort on Feb. 4 to make an inventory of wines and olive oils. While in Balesin, Batalan was confronted by allegations that he stole money from Ongpin’s company, questioning how he was able to afford a good house, cars and pharmacy business.

“Upon arrival at Balesin, complainant [Batalan] was fetched by Asperin and Penaflor. They immediately proceeded to the office of Mr. Ongpin located at Balesin Club House. While there and in the presence of Manalo and Dalupan, Batalan was accused of Mr. Ongpin of stealing millions from the company,” the complaint filed by Batalan and the NBI stated.

“Batalan was informed by Ongpin that the former has been under surveillance for three months and should explain why he has a good house, cars and a pharmacy business,” the complaint stated.

He said “he was threatened to be stuck in the island unless he tells everything.”

While under detention, he said he was interrogated, psychologically tortured and coerced to sign prepared affidavits. For fear of his life and his family’s safety, he already agreed to sign the affidavit that he withdrew P3 million from three bank accounts he personally created for Ongpin’s stock market trading activities. But he said the amount ballooned to P5.3 million at the Bank of Commerce in Makati.

After that, he said all his mobile phones were taken away and he was dropped off at his house in Las Piñas.

On the other hand, the flight dispatcher was also slapped with a complaint for falsification after he made a false statement excluding Batalan’s name in the passenger manifest of the departing flight from Manila to Balesin and its return flight to Manila.

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