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MPD files raps vs 5 NBI men for beating up cop

By Pat C. Santos

11/09/2008

Five operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are now facing charges of frustrated homicide and grave threats after the Manila Police District (MPD) formally filed the charges before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office over a traffic altercation that happened last Oct. 29 in Tondo, Manila.

The charges were filed against lawyer Elizardo Beltran of of the NBI Internal Affairs Division and four other unidentified agents of NBI Anti- Graft Division (AGD).

In an interview, PO2 Ronald Carlos of the MPD general assignment section said NBI spokesman lawyer Allan Contado, head of AGD, refused to identify those charged under him pending the results of the investigation.

Carlos said apart from the victim, several witnesses will be presented to testify against the five NBI agents.

Earlier, the NBI had created a team to look into the mauling of PO3 Rodolfo Arellano, assigned to MPD Station 3 Police Community Precinct at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo.

Lawyer Ric Diaz, chief of staff of the Office of the Deputy Director and head of the investigating team, said Beltran and the four AGD agents were placed under investigation. Diaz also refused to identify the four men of Contado.

Also recently, Contado vehemently denied his men were involved in the mauling of Arellano but investigation of the NBI showed the four suspects belong to Contado’s office.

Contado said they will also file administrative charges against the policeman before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Diaz said their investigation will help the MPD in its own probe.

At 12 midnight last Oct. 29, along Juan Luna Street corner Yuseco Street, Tondo, Manila, the policeman was beaten up by five NBI agents over a traffic altercation in the area.

Diaz said Arellano claimed Beltran did not beat him but the AGD official was included in the probe because he (Beltran) was the one who engaged Arellano in a heated traffic altercation.

Beltran was also the one who asked the AGD which was then the alert team to respond to the incident.

Meanwhile, Diaz admitted the NBI and the MPD have two different versions as they are now in the process of inviting other witnesses to tell what really transpired.

Both NBI Director Nestor Mantaring and MPD director Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales earlier had assured the public there would be no whitewash in their separate investigations.