NBI-XI denies bribe rap

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) XI Assistant Regional Director Exzel Hernandez (PNA PHOTO)

DAVAO CITY— A ranking official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional office has denied accusation that NBI agents are extorting money from the owner of a night bar in the city.

At Wednesday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps at Royal Mandaya Hotel, NBI assistant regional director Exzel Hernandez said there was no attempt to ask money from the owners of Plaza Roman KTV Bar Miguel Efren Aquino and his floor manager when it was raided last August 7.

“We never asked money. We just implemented the law without fear or favor,” Hernandez said, but refused to further discuss the issue because a case has been filed against the bar owners and four of the agency’s personnel are now under investigation.

Hernandez said he learned about the incident when NBI central office Internal Affairs team came to Davao to investigate the accusation.

He also denied knowledge about the alleged PHP5,000 weekly payola as protection money from the bar owners.

Hernandez believes the issue can be addressed legally. “The truth shall set us free and that our moral is high, and we treat such as part of our job,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said NBI is not affected by the issue as this is part of the humps or hiccups in the NBI’s role.

“We remain focus on our job,” he told reporters. The NBI regional office is in the center of controversy after its Regional Director was accused of asking P500,000 reportedly as bribe in order that a case against the Aquinos will not prosper. Rosales reportedly took the money from the Holiday Spa after the raid.

Rosales has denied the allegation.