Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Sunday said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) would probe all five personalities identified by Dagupan City radio station manager Orlando Navarro as possibly having something to do with an attempt on his life on Aug. 26.
“All those mentioned by the victim are included in the investigation,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.
One of those named by Navarro in his affidavit filed in the Department of Justice last week was Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez, a member of the administration Liberal Party.
Also tagged by Navarro were city police chief Supt. Christopher Abrahano, former provincial police director Marlon Chan, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Pangasinan chief Freddie Laoyan and one Marlon Quebral.
In a press conference Thursday, Navarro said he had been a vocal critic of the administration of Fernandez. The mayor, however, was quoted by Pangasinan media as denying involvement, saying she was a “God-fearing” person and was attending a League of Cities of the Philippines meeting at the time of the shooting.
Last Friday, De Lima issued a memorandum to NBI Director Virgilio Mendez, giving the agency 15 days to submit an initial report on the actions regarding the attempt.–Jerome Aning