NBI chief assures no “cover-up” on probe of extortion issue

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MANILA — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Virgilio L. Mendez on Monday assured that there will be no “cover-up” in the investigation of the extortion issue being hurled against alleged NBI agents who recently arrested four Saudi Arabian nationals.

According to Mendez, as of now, it is not yet confirmed whether NBI personnel are indeed involved in extortion. However, he said that if ever it will be proven that they really are from the NBI, there will be no “white-wash”.

The NBI chief also assured that those who would be implicated will undergo meticulous investigation and will be given due process.

Mendez added that he has already ordered the submission of a list of the operations conducted by different NBI Divisions in relation to human trafficking or illegal recruitment wherein foreigners were arrested.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier created a special fact-finding committee to investigate the complaint of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Philippines that four Saudi Arabian nationals were allegedly victimized by extortion activities with the amounts ranging from Php20,000 to Php300,000 allegedly perpetrated by NBI agents after they were arrested for alleged human trafficking.

They were released upon payment of such amounts.