Baligod blasts NBI for opening letters without permission

Whistleblower Merlina Sunas INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Levito Baligod on Monday said he has yet to receive the letter from whistleblower Merlina Suñas informing him of his replacement as her lawyer and may not likely receive it anytime soon.

“Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin akong natatanggap although alam ko na po iyon na may sulat talaga,” Baligod told Radyo Inquirer 990AM, referring to Suñas’ letter that was addressed to him but was released to media last Saturday.

(Until now I have not received anything though I know there is a letter.)

“Nababahala lang ako doon sa aspeto na ‘yung liham para sa akin ay hindi nakakarating dahil kinakalat nila sa media, sa ibang tao na hindi dapat mapuntahan,” he added.

(I am bothered at the fact that a letter for me never reached me because it was distributed to media, to other people.)

“Irespeto po nila yung privacy nu’ng letter na iyon (They should respect the private nature of that letter),” Baligod said.

Suñas, in a letter dated May 23, informed Baligod that she was replacing him as her lawyer, although no reason was given.

Baligod explained it was because he was tending to other cases related to the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The lawyer said it was not the first time that it happened to him. He said Behur Luy’s letter, also informing him of his replacement, has yet to reach him since it was released to media back in March.

He explained that since access to the whistleblowers was limited, their letters were usually coursed through the Witness Protection Program (WPP). WPP personnel then send it to the National Bureau of Investigation for relaying.

“’Yung sulat ko po ay umabot doon sa Office of the Secretary. Binuksan ‘yung sulat para sa akin at binasa sa publiko. Kaya hindi pa dumating hanggang ngayon,” Baligod said of Luy’s letter.

(My letter reached the Office of the Secretary. They opened the letter addressed to me and read it to the public. That is why until now I have not received it.)

Meanwhile, he said Suñas’ sealed letter was opened, photocopied then distributed.

Baligod said he considered the first time an “oversight,” but when his letter from Suñas was again opened, he said it seemed deliberate.

“Meron ho sigurong ilang kawani d’yan na gusto n’yang magkaroon ng media exposure ‘yung issue at pinapalabas na nagaaway kami ng mga whistleblowers, meron akong pagkakasala kaya tinanggal,” he said.

(Perhaps there’s an employee there who wants the issue to have media exposure, who is making it appear that the whistleblowers and I are fighting, that I am at fault that’s why I was dropped as lawyer.)

But Baligod insisted there was no conflict between him and the whistleblowers. Like in the case of Suñas, Baligod also claimed then that he was replaced by Luy because he was working on other cases.

“Wala pong away na ganoon gaya ng pilit na pinapalabas…Siguro natutuwa sila ‘pag may ganitong issue na parang nagkakasiraan kami ng mga whistleblower,” he said.

(There was no such fight between us amid what others are trying to make it look like…Perhaps they want me to be at odds with the whistleblowers.)

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