MANILA, Oct. 12 (PNA) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered an investigation into allegations of extortion activities of some National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel in connivance with a certain Miss “Arlene” after a complaint was filed by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.
Under Department Order No. 729 signed by Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, a special fact finding committee chaired by Assistant Secretary Zabedin M. Azis has been created to conduct the probe.
“In the interest of the service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, a Special Fact Finding Committee, composed of representatives from the DOJ, NBI and National Prosecution Service (NPS), is hereby created to conduct an inquiry into the serious allegations set forth in the letters of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Manila,” the order said.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia sent letters to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and to Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. in view of the alleged mulcting activities by corrupt NBI officials.
Among the allegations mentioned were the extortion activities of the NBI along with a woman named “Arlene” or “Darlene.”
This new Arlene is different from the alleged fixer of cases “Ma’m Arlene” in the Judiciary.
Likewise, it has allegedly victimized several Saudi nationals, including Majdi Abdulhamed Yaghmoor, Hassand Alharbi, Ahmad Al Ghaneem and Farhan Alsolobi.
The said Saudi nationals were allegedly arrested but later on released by the NBI after payment of a huge sum of money.
The amount extorted ranged from Php20,000 from Alharbi to Php250,000 from Alsolobi and Php300,000 from Yaghmoor and Al Ghaneem, respectively.
“In light of such serious allegations, which not only cast the National Bureau of Investigation in a bad light, but likewise compromise the integrity of the legitimate operations against human traffickers, as well as our nation’s diplomatic relations with countries whose nationals may have been victimized by such alleged criminal syndicates, the Special Fact Finding Committee is created,” the order added.
Aside from Azis, designated as vice chair of the panel is Deputy Director Jose Doloiras, with Acting Regional Director for Central Luzon Jose Justo Yap as member.
For the prosecution, named as members of the panel are Assistant State Prosecutors Bryan Jacinto Cacha and Alejandro Daguiso, and DOJ State Counsel Adonis Sulit.
“Said Committee is mandated to thoroughly investigate the serious allegations set forth in the letters related to the cases of Saudi nationals, as well as to validate and probe other similar incidents involving personnel of the NBI (regardless of the nationality of the purported victims of extortion), which may come in light in the course of the investigation, towards the end of gathering and evaluating relevant information,” the order said.
The committee is hereby ordered to: “1. Determine whether or not any administrative and/or criminal liability has been incurred by NBI personnel; 2. Identify those who may be found responsible therefor; 3. Recommend appropriate courses of action to take, including the appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges to file, if any.”
The order moreover said that the “Committee shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations and, if warranted take appropriate steps to initiate the necessary and appropriate and/or criminal proceedings against those who may be found to be liable.”
The Committee is mandated to submit the report on or before Nov. 15, 2014. (PNA)