NBI deputy chief insists ambush linked to Ohara case
National Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda maintained yesterday that the attack on him is connected to the extortion and kidnapping of undocumented Japanese woman Noriyo Ohara but refused to comment on whether his former boss, dismissed NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula, is guilty.
Esmeralda was back at work yesterday, three days after he was ambushed Tuesday night.
“I am not pointing an accusing finger at my boss,” he told reporters. “I have nothing against him.”
Esmeralda said he is investigating the angle wherein the ambush may be related to the case of Ohara, who accused Gatdula and several NBI officials and agents of kidnapping her and extorting P6 million from the Filipino family who harbored her.
Esmeralda also said he has not made any statement before the Department of Justice, which supervises the NBI, linking Gatdula personally to the kidnapping.
Asked if Gatdula was innocent, Esmeralda said he cannot comment and would leave it up to the NBI and police investigators. He also refused to state if Gatdula would be cleared of charges in connection with the case, saying he would leave it up to the courts to decide.
“Being one of his directorial staff I think it’s also my obligation to tell him what I’ve learned that will affect the institution. There is an allegation of kidnapping here. It’s my obligation to tell him that there is a situation here. I told him you (Gatdula) should address this one. It will not only affect you (Gatdula) but the entire institu- tion,” Esmeralda said.
He said his job as deputy director for technical services covers forensics and NBI clearance, so “I don’t think anyone will be angry with me.”
Esmeralda said he has requested additional security escorts for himself and his family.
Nothing to hide
Esmeralda said he has nothing to hide and denied that he staged his own ambush.
“For the record, it was a two-vehicle convoy. I was in the first vehicle. And the backup was behind us. I have no lead car,” he said.
Esmeralda said he dropped to the floor of the vehicle as soon as he heard gunfire. However, because their vehicle was strafed, he could not peek through the windows. The attack lasted only seconds, he said.
He said he saw his backup vehicle chase the motorcycle-riding gunmen. He said he initially wanted to go to the Makati Medical Center, but thought the assassins could be waiting for them. He decided to go back to the NBI.
“That’s precisely the reason why the police could not find our vehicle at the crime scene. After I was brought to the hospital, I told them to bring the car to the NBI for future investigation,” Esmeralda said.
He also said by the time the NBI agents went to the scene of the attack along Apacible street in Paco, Manila, children were already picking up the shells. “We did not clean up the crime scene,” he said.