NBI agent in birthday party shooting charged

An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation who shot another agent during a birthday party inside the NBI headquarters in Manila was charged on Wednesday with frustrated murder at the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Manila Assistant City Prosecutor Erlinda Lim had earlier recommended the filing of frustrated murder charge against NBI Special Investigator Nestor Pascual and set a bail of P200,000 for his temporary liberty.

“Do not disarm me. People are trying to kill me,” Pascual, who was apparently drunk, said moments before he fired at fellow agent Joselito Guillen inside the NBI-National Capital Region office last Friday, according to a witness.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has relieved NBI-NCR Regional Director Manuel George Jularbal and other agents who were at the party.

According to NBI agent Heli Tiu, whisky and beer were served at the table he shared with Guillen and other agents. Red wine and gin were handed around at another table, where Pascual was seated.

At around 7:30 p.m., Tiu said an agent called their attention when a drunk Pascual went inside his cubicle and threw up in a trash can with his gun exposed at his side.

“He was in his mattress inside his cubicle, throwing up in a nearby trash can. He was told to rest because he was already unruly. His actions had offended some people,” Tiu said.

Tiu and Guillen talked to Pascual to set aside his gun but the latter said, “Do not disarm me. People are trying to kill me.” Tiu said he put the gun under the mattress but Guillen asked for it.

When he came back after going to another cubicle, he found Guillen holding the gun’s magazine while the unloaded gun was on the mattress. Tiu said he saw the two chatting in a normal manner.

When Guillen left, Pascual reached out for his gun and reloaded it. Tiu went to Pascual and asked for the gun but the latter mentioned the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency and kissed him on the cheek.

He said Pascual suddenly fired four times at Guillen when the latter appeared, prompting Tiu to forcibly disarm him.

Guillen was rushed to the Manila Doctor’s Hospital where he was treated for multiple gunshot wounds and underwent operation on his right hand.