NBI agents cleared in extortion case

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has junked the criminal complaints against three agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI) for robbery, extortion and grave threat.

Graft Investigator Yvette Christine Labrador-Soleng,  dismissed the charges of robbery, extortion, and grave threats against Special Investigator Arnel Pura; investigation staff Xerxes Baladya; and medico-legal officer Dr. Rene Cam.

“It has not been substantially established that respondents conspired to extort money from complainant Yee,” the decision reads.

Engr. Robert Yee, who was investigated for allegedly raping a 17-year-old nursing student accused the three NBI agents of using the student’s sister to extort P3 million from him.

Yee cooperated with the police in arresting the student and her sister in an entrapment operation in September 2009.

In their counter-affidavits, the respondents said that “the allegation of conspiracy to extort P3 million from complainant Yee is too general and broad and failed to point out the specific acts performed by the respondents.”

Also, the investigator found out that Yee violated the rule against forum shopping.

“It has long been settled that violation of the prohibition against forum shopping is a ground for summary dismissal of the complaint,” Soleng said.

“Yee maintained that the respondents plotted a grand extortion attempt to the tune of  P3 million from him by utilizing, inducing and coercing a lady minor to file a concocted and fabricated complaint for rape against him,” the complaint reads.

The rape charges against Yee that was eventually dismissed by the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for lack of probable cause.  /Joy Cherry Quito, Correspondent