NBI denies charges by mother of 2 suspects in 2021 ‘abduction’ of online ‘sabong’ workers (Latest Sabong News)
Author
Jeffrey Damicog
Date
JANUARY 31 2023
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday, Jan. 31, denied allegations that any of its officials and agents committed wrongdoing against two brothers who have been arrested for their reported involvement in the abduction of online cockfight workers in 2021.
In a statement, the NBI said it “takes exception to the reported torture, planting of evidence and rape by the NBI-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) personnel and its Chief.”
“We believe that this issue is related to the three (3) cases filed by NBI-TFAID against the Manio brothers and the PNP-NCRPO-RDEU (Philippine National Police-National Capital Region-Regional Drug Enforcement Unit),” it said.
It said its agents arrested in 2021 and filed criminal complaints against Manio brothers Nicasio and Nicholes who were accused of abducting missing online cockfight workers Johnver Francisco and Fran Tabaranza in Meycauayan, Bulacan.
It said it also filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) last Jan. 25 kidnapping complaints against nine members of the NCRPO-DREU for abducting two missing drug suspects in Manila in 2021.
It said it issued the statement in response to news reports that Joyce Manio, the mother of the Manio brothers, filed before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices a complaint against the members of the NBI-TFAID and its chief Ross Jonathan Galicia.
“Up to date, no copy of the formal complaint has been received in relation to the allegations being publicized against NBI-TFAID. Nonetheless, once furnished with the same, the NBI will answer all the allegations in accordance with the legal procedure in the proper forum,” the NBI said.
“Rest assured that the NBI will continue to unwaveringly perform its mandate in providing quality services to the public,” it assured.
News reports alleged that Joyce Manio accused the NBI-TFAID in the complaint for graft, grave coercion, rape, planting of drugs as evidence, violations of Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act, domicile under Article 128 of the Revised Penal Code, incriminating against innocent persons, and delays in the delivery of detained persons to the proper judicial authorities.
The complainant alleged that the Manio brothers were allegedly arrested without warrants at their house in Batangas on Jun 8, 2021 and were beaten up while escorted to the NBI vehicles.
She also alleged, while they were detained at the NBI-TFAID office, the Manio brothers were threatened with bodily harm, cajoled and allegedly sexually molested.
TAGS: #OMB #NBI-TFAID #Missing sabungeros #NBI #Manio brothers
