DOJ to consider disbarment of NBI exec: Guevarra

FILE: Secretary Menardo Guevarra during a press briefing in Malacañang TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – A lawyer of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will face disbarment for allegedly asking PHP200,000-bribe from a Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer tagged in the “pastillas” scheme, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday.

“We’ll consider this action (disbarment) after the inquest resolution. We’ll discuss it with the NBI,” Guevarra when asked to comment on possible disbarment of NBI Legal Assistance Section chief Joshua Paul Capiral.

Capiral and his brother, Bureau of Immigration Medical Section officer Christopher John Capiral on Wednesday underwent inquest proceedings before the DOJ over their alleged involvement in extorting money from complainant, BI officer Jeffrey Dale Salamde Ignacio.

In a media interview on Thursday, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon said they were finalizing the resolution of the inquest proceedings against the Capiral brothers before submitting the same for approval to the office of the prosecutor general.

The Capirals were arrested in an entrapment after they received PHP200,000 from Ignacio, one of the 19 BI officers alleged involvement in the protection racket which allows the entry of Chinese nationals into the country.

The NBI Special Action Unit filed robbery/extortion and graft and corruption charges against the Capirals.

NBI deputy director and spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said agents had been investigating the Capiral brothers for more than two weeks, saying it was John who approached the NBI.

Lavin said Joshua Capiral, in his capacity as NBI legal assistance section chief, reviews and evaluates the work of an agent.

Before the entrapment, Lavin said the NBI flagged Capiral for initially recommending that only four of the 19 immigration officers be charged with the alleged involvement in the “pastillas” bribery scam, named for the rolls of grease money rolled up in paper like milk candy.

The NBI earlier recommended the filing of criminal charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against 19 BI officers and personnel for their alleged involvement in the money-making scheme while assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Aside from Ignacio, other BI personnel charged are Grifton San Pedro Medina, Deon Carlo Albao, Fidel Mendoza, Abdulhafez dela Tonga Handjibasher, Gabriel Ernest Estacio, Ralph Garcia, Phol Villanueva, Abdul Calaca, Danilo Deudor, Mark Macababad, Aurelio Lucero III, George Bituin, Salahudin Hadjinoor, Chevy Naniong, Hamza Pacasum, Manuel Sarmiento III, Cherry Pie Ricolcol, and German Robin.