Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo (right) and Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez (Photo courtesy of House of Representatives)
MANILA – Two congressmen have initiated an investigation on seven agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the alleged “unlawful and abusive” arrest of a delivery company employee.
Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo and Laguna 1st District Rep. Dan Fernandez met with the seven agents of the NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) and the victim, 36-year-old Michael Bryan Gonzaga, at the House of Representatives on Wednesday morning.
The NBI-IPRD agents are Special Investigators Marvin Bernard Villardo, Adjutor Larosa, George Gabinete, Valiant Raganit and Rosauro Dantis; and Senior Agents Ma. Aiza Arcega Quiambao and Baden Francis Alonzo.
They were accompanied by NBI Assistant Director Vicente De Guzman.
“Gusto nating wakasan ‘yung kultura natin na kapag ikaw ay otoridad o law enforcer at opisyal ng pamahalaan ay hindi na pwedeng kalabanin ng pangkaraniwang mamamayan kahit pa ang mga opisyal ang may kasalanan (We want to put an end to our culture where if one is a person of authority or law enforcer and government official, no ordinary citizen could go against them even if they are the ones at fault),” Tulfo said.
Gonzaga allegedly tangled with Marvin Joseph Villardo, son of one of the agents, over a parking spot in Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City on Dec. 1.
Villardo, upon seeing the altercation, drew his gun on Gonzaga.
“Naglabas siya ng baril at tinutukan niya ako (He drew his gun and pointed it at me),” Gonzaga told Tulfo and Fernandez, referring to the NBI agent.
Village officials responded to the scene and brought the two warring parties before their office.
However, the elder Villardo called his colleagues and forcibly took custody of Gonzaga.
The worker was charged with direct assault and grave threats before the NBI.
Tullfo said what was supposed to be only a minor dispute resulted in the two-week detention of Gonzaga at the NBI jail facility in Muntinlupa.
Fernandez, chairperson of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, said they saw irregularities on the actions of the NBI agents.
“Dapat sana ay sila ang magpapatupad ng batas (They are supposed to be enforcers of the law),” he stressed.
The two lawmakers also noted that the NBI-IPRD was not the proper unit to respond to the scene, and maintained that the operatives should have just allowed the barangay officials to resolve the case.
Tulfo said the erring NBI agents face administrative charges of grave misconduct, oppression or grave abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
Fernandez said the inquiry, in aid of legislation, will be set next week before his panel.
Meanwhile, the NBI operatives involved in the said operations were already relieved from their posts pending investigation of the case, according to De Guzman. (PNA)
