The chief and staff of the National Bureau of Investigation-Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) were fired for their alleged involvement in an anomalous operation in Manila recently, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed Thursday that he had approved the removal of Assistant Regional Director Victor Lorenzo, chief of the NBI-Cybercrime Investigation and Assessment Center (CIAC), and some CCD personnel.
Guevarra clarified that Lorenzo and staff are already being investigated because of the matter.
NBI-Officer-in-Charge Director Eric Distor recommended that Lorenzo’s group be fired.
“I have informed OIC Chief Distor about my approval of his recommendation for the relief of the NBI personnel concerned. The order for the relief of Cybercrime Division personnel involved in the subject operation will come from the OIC Chief of the NBI,” said Guevarra.
He said the issue took root when the group raided an establishment in Manila where there would have been a seizure and investigation of computer data found in the area on May 31.
“No further details could be given at this time, as the matter is being investigated by the IAD. We just want to make sure that similar operations in the future will be conducted in a most professional way, ”it said.
He said their only purpose is to preserve the evidence and avoid influencing the ongoing investigation.
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₱3.4-M illegal drugs seized in Laguna
More than ₱ 3 million worth of suspected shabu was confiscated by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) -National Capital Region (NCR) personnel from an alleged drug pusher in Barangay Santo Niño, San Pedro City, on Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect was identified as Armand Endozo, alias “Boy 45,” unemployed and a resident of the said area.
PDEA-NCR-Regional Special Enforcement Team 3 (RSET3) conducted an anti-drug operation against the suspect in Anastacio Olivares Street, who was arrested by Endozo around 2:30 p.m.
More than 500 grams of alleged shabu, drug paraphernalia, and marked money were confiscated from the suspect.
The suspect, facing charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165), has been detained at the PDEA Central Office in Quezon City.
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