AN agent of the National Bureau of Investigation was sacked and charges were filed against him before the Makati City Prosecutors Office for committing an “abhorrent deed” during an operation against a clinic operating without a license.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago did not identify the agent but sources said he was a lawyer assigned to the NBI Special Task Force (STF).
The source said the agent “harassed” the Vietnamese operating the clinic with the help of Filipino cohorts.
The STF was created to act on cases involving national security and/or interest and those referred by the Office of the President and the Office of the Secretary of Justice.
It also acts on other cases that may be assigned by the NBI Director requiring priority disposition.
Santiago said last September 11, the STF conducted an operation after receiving a complaint from a private individual about a clinic in Makati City allegedly operating without a medical license and/or accreditation.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Vietnamese and her cohorts, who were charged the following day before the Makati City Prosecutors Office.
Santiago said his office received information that one of the members of the STF raiding team committed an “abhorrent deed” during the operation.
Santiago did not reveal details but said he directed the bureau’s Internal Affairs Division to conduct an investigation.
Santiago said he also issued an order grounding the STF, prohibiting it from conducting any further operation.
A statement later issued by Santiago’s office said the Director confronted the agent about what he did.
“In his embarrassment, the agent decided to tender his resignation from the service which was accepted by the Director. Knowing that a mere resignation was not enough, the NBI also filed the appropriate criminal charges against the said agent before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City,” the statement said.
“The filing of cases underscores the policy of non-tolerance for any improper and irregular behavior. This incident, however, exceeds mere impropriety and irregularity by far. It is illegal, unlawful, unethical, gruesome, grotesque and outrightly unacceptable,” it added.
