IN my column last January 6, I mentioned that NBI  Director  Magtanggol Gatdula would not be returning to his post from his 30-day leave last month after he got involved in the extortion-cum-kidnapping that his subordinates perpetrated against Noriyo Ohara, an undocumented Japanese woman last October.

Ohara, my sources said, has a very interesting story to tell, the sort one only gets to read in a novel or watch in the movies. She is now in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) which is

only right under the circumstances.

But if there is one detail about Ohara’s travails that is worth telling now -- and condemning -- is the depth of corruption and criminality that has become pervasive within the NBI, supposedly the country’s most credible law enforcement agency.

What happened to Ohara is damning proof that the NBI’s self-proclaimed uprightness is all “smoke and mirror,” so to speak.

Indeed, her story is glaring testimony of how criminals, masquerading as law enforcers, because they have law and accountancy degrees to show, have managed to penetrate the NBI, gain position of influence and then turn it into one of the country’s most organized crime group.

Sa totoo lang, mga kabayan. Mag-isip kayo ng raket na hindi “patong” ang ilang tauhan at opisyal ng NBI, siguradong hindi malayo na tama ang inyong hinala.

In short, hindi lang mga tiwaling elemento ng PNP ang sanay sa “bangketa operation,” protektor ng mga gambling lords, sanay sa “hulidap” at mga extortionists, aba’y andami ring ganyang mga personalidad sa NBI!

And pardon the strong description, Pres. Noy, but that is how things are today at the NBI, no ifs and buts about it, ‘di ba?

Now this brings me to the point of the letter reportedly delivered to P-Noy by the NBI Investigators Mutual Benefit Association and the NBI Employees Association in the wake of the Ohara scandal.

Reportedly, these groups say they are “united” in condemning any wrongdoings or misdeeds by any member of the NBI that compromises the bureau’s dignity and reputation.

This is welcome news, indeed as it assures everyone that majority of NBI personnel are loyal to the agency’s ideals of nobility, bravery and integrity.

Be that as it may, Pres. Noy should henceforth discard the letter’s other important message that in replacing Gatdula, he should “take into consideration” the possibility of appointing an “insider” or, as the letter puts it, “competent members of our ranks.”

Panginoong mahabagin, Pang. Noy. Harinawang huwag kang magkamaling sundin ang panukalang ito -- siguradong sa kanal na naman ng kahihiyan dadamputin ang NBI sa mga darating na araw.

In short, acceding to this self-serving “wisdom” would only make worse the currently bad situation prevailing at the NBI.

Alam kong maraming NBI agents ang masasaktan pero, huwag na tayong magplastikan, mga bosing.

Alam naman ninyo sa inyong mga sarili na wala kayong mga “K” na magsabi kay P-Noy na kayo ay mga “matitino,” may kredibilidad at kayang buwagin ang kultura ng krimen at “impunity” na talamak na ngayon sa inyong ahensiya.

Paano ninyo bubuwagin eh, kayo-kayo d’yan ang magkakasabwat, ehek, magkakakasama?

Halimbawa, bakit ba ang lakas pa rin ng loob ng mga dayuhang smugglers, ehek, players, na sina alias Dennis Lee at George Tan na magpatuloy sa kanilang operasyon? Hindi ba dahil ang kanilang mga kargamento ay protektado ng “NBI Brokerage?”

Ano na ang nangyari sa fake AFTA certificate case na pinaimbestigahan noong huling bahagi ng 2010 ni BOC Comm. Lito Alvarez na dawit ang pangalan nitong si George Tan?

Ano na ang nangyari sa imbestigasyon sa “nawawalang” 1,900 container vans sa BOC na si Alvarez naman ang sumabit?  Ano na rin ang nangyari sa reklamo ng National Press Club (NPC) laban kay NBI Central Luzon regional director Atty. Ric Diaz?

Sa mga tanong na ito, mga kabayan, isa lang ang sagot ng NBI: Wala pa ring resulta, tsk,tsk,tsk!

Also mentioned in my column last January 6, was the information that high in P-Noy’s list of names to replace Gatdula is CIDG Director Samuel Pagdilao.

And as far as I know it, P-Noy’s mind hasn’t change a bit up to this time.

Indeed, in P-Noy’s determination to really put the NBI house in order, he should not be distracted by a “report” that he should forget about Pagdilao because this straightforward, no-nonsense official also has a pending case for kidnapping.

That’s all yarn and plain BS, Mr. President, one that you should dismissed off hand as part of a demolition job to destroy Dir. Samuel’s credibility and integrity.

And less the readers be misled into thinking I owe a lot from Dir. Sammy for boosting him repeatedly, that’s very far from the truth -- ang “kunat” kaya ng boss na ito ni kaibigang Mike Silva, hehehe!

But like all Filipinos wishing to see improvements in our governance, I also sincerely want to see P-Noy make the right choice and the right decision, this despite the regular dose of criticism I am throwing his way thru this corner.

For when our President makes the right decision and the right choice, it translates to a better life for all of us, ’di ba SILG Jesse Robredo?

And in the case of the scandal-ridden NBI, there is no doubt in my mind that only the likes of Dir. Sammy can put it back on the straight path that P-Noy so desires to see these days.

In short, Dir. Sammy is well prepared to smash the culture of corruption, impunity and criminality now prevalent at the NBI.  Abangan!

(For reaction, text at 09274711475 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).