DISMISSED National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula finally broke his silence yesterday and blamed politics for his hasty dismissal.

Interviewed over ABS-CBN, Atty. Abraham Espejo, the embattled official’s counsel, stressed that his client was a victim of politicking  by personalities eyeing the former NBI chief's position.

"Meron diyan na namumulitika na interesado sa posisyon ni Gatdula," Espejo said.

"Bakit nila paparusahan si NBI director [Gatdula] based on hearsay? Tsismis yan eh. I'd like to think na may pulitika d’yan," he added.

He pointed out that the DoJ fact-finding panel headed by Justice Undersecretary Fransisco Baraan III failed to give the respondents due process when it recommended the filing of charges against Gatdula.

He said that the recommendation of the fact-finding panel came as a surprise to them since Gatdula was not the subject of the investigation.    

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima defended the relief of Gatdula saying presidential appointees serve at the pleasure of the President.

“He (Gatdula) is a presidential appointee and he's not a CESO (Career Executive Service Officer) and therefore the President can remove him anytime. Acting appointment lang lahat yan kung hindi ka CESO,” De Lima said in a chance interview.

Also, De Lima debunked insinuations that Gatdula was not afforded due process when he was sacked by President Benigno Aquino III the other day.

De Lima said that during inquiry by the Justice Department into the celebrated Ohara case, Gatdula was asked to explain himself before the fact-finding panel.

“Sa fact finding pinatawag naman siya, nag-testify naman siya. Now kung gusto niya yung full blown hearing (preliminary investigation)…then he can put up all the defenses that he would want to present,” she said.

Gatdula was relieved in the wake of the controversy that hounded the NBI after some of its agents were linked to the alleged kidnapping-extortion of 32-year-old undocumented Japanese Noriyo Ohara. The accused allegedly demanded P6 million for her release.

Gatdula, who is a lawyer, is a retired police general and member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1976.