The head of the Bacolod NBI team, whose members were beaten up while serving a search warrant on a Korean businessman, said the charges filed against them yesterday were all lies and are probably intended to counter the numerous cases the NBI is also set to file.

We are filing charges for obstruction of justice, attempted murder and for several other offenses against the policemen and civilians who stopped us from serving a search warrant on Ha Hae Bong Saturday, NBI team leader Menci Mamaspas said.

We had a search warrant issued by the court and we thought the Negros Oriental police arrived to assist us, he said.
When Chief Inspector Julius Muñez, deputy police provincial commander of Negros Oriental, arrived, Mamaspas said he introduced himself as a member of the NBI and showed the police official their search warrant.

He said Muñez appeared to be ready to help them but he got a phone call and suddenly guns were pointed at the members of the NBI team, they were disarmed and beaten up.
Mamaspas denied the charge that his team planted evidence, saying it is a lie.

He also denied kidnapping, serious detention and grave threats allegations against them, saying they apprehended Pamplona Cottage security guard Alfredo Elmaco on Feb. 1 after he and his companions blocked an NBI vehicle while they were conducting surveillance work at the Dumaguete airport area.

We disarmed the security guard and brought him to the NBI office in Dumaguete where he was booked and he was later turned over to the Dumaguete police, he said.
We have not been able to file charges against the security guard yet because we were beaten up, Mamaspas said.

He said that, aside from the police civilians, security guards and an alleged lawyer also joined in the beating.

As to the allegation that the NBI agents took the firearms of the security guards at the Pamplona resort where they were to serve search warrant, he said that is standard operating procedure to ensure their protection while carrying out a court order.

He said the firearms of the guards were in their vehicle when they were beaten up and that they were unable to return them after the incident since the police tied them up and brought them to the police provincial command office.

NBI Bacolod chief Philip Pecache said the matter is now in the hands of the Region 7 police and NBI officials tasked to investigate the incident.

After the investigation we will know the complete details of what really transpired, he said.

The real issue here is the challenge made on the validity of the search warrant that should not happen on the street, but in the court, he said.
Those who defied the court order must answer for their acts, he said.*CPG

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