A Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDP) officer who was arrested in February for allegedly extorting money from a German yacht owner has filed administrative and perjury charges against three officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a document obtained by Palawan News on Wednesday, Ensign Allison Tindog filed the charges against NBI agents Renato Garbo, Roger Sususco and Cedric Caabay.
“Nakita natin doon sa sworn statement ng complainant ko at joint affidavit of arrest ng NBI operatives na mayroong hindi pagkakatugma sa kanilang mga sinasabi kaya nag-file po tayo ng perjury case sa city prosecutor and administrative complaint sa NBI main office nila,” Tindog said.
In his affidavit, Tindog claimed that he was arrested after he came out from his office and the NBI agents did not see him committing or attempting to commit robbery and extortion.
“Sinasabi kasi nila na doon nila ako na-entrap sa loob ng office pero hindi naman. Maraming pagkakaiba sa sinabi nila kaya nag-file tayo ng criminal and admin case against sa NBI agents,” he said.
In a separate interview, special investigator III Cedric Caabay said that they are just doing their jobs which is “nothing personal.”
He denied the allegations of Tindog and they are ready to face the charges being filed against them.
“Ayon sa kanya ay mali ang nakalagay sa aming affidavit of arrest, natanggap namin ang subpoena ay last week ng March then last week nalaman natin na nag-file na siya ng admin case. Naka-ready naman kaming sagutin ito. Parehong malapit sa simbahan ang aming opisina, alam niya kung ano ang totoo kaya sana naman mag-stick tayo sa kung ano ang totoo, alam niyang trabaho lang ito, walang personalan,” Caabay pointed out.
Tindog was arrested by NBI operatives in an entrapment operation following the complaint of German national Dirk Haering and his wife Jessica.
Earlier, Caabay said Tindog was arrested accepting money from the couple inside his office at the CGDP located in the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) compound.
The Haerings sought the help of the NBI against Tindog whom they claimed was extorting money from them for their failure to log in and log out with the CGDP.
The process allows the CGDP to know when boats are leaving to head out on the water and when they are expected to return.
Caabay said Tindog allegedly started extorting money from the complainants on January 11, 2019, for P180,000.
But they were able to negotiate with Tindog to lower the amount to P80,000.
After giving the amount, Tindog was said to have issued them a receipt only for P10,000.
“Base sa complainant na foreigner, nag-start ito noong hiningian sila noong January 11 ng P180,000 na natawaran nila ng P80,000. Ang may resibo ay P10,000 lang. Naulit ito kanina, hiningian sila ng P50,000. Bago sila pumunta sa opisina ng Coast Guard ay pumunta sila dito sa ating tanggapan para humingi ng tulong,” Caabay said.
He added that after the Haerings handed the money to Tindog inside his office, the NBI agents immediately entered his office and announced his arrest for alleged extortion.
Tindog asked for the money to supposedly helped the Haerings “fix” their violation.
“Ang sabi raw sa aming complainant ay hinihingi ang P50,000 para matulungan sila na maayos ang problema nila sa kanilang yate, ‘yon ngang hindi pag-log out sa point of origin at pag-log in sa point of entry which is dito sa Puerto Princesa,” he added.
Caabay said Tindog was cooperative during his arrest after the entrapment.
Aside from extortion, Tindog was also charged for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Alleged extortion victim Dirk said they admit that their boat has violated Philippine laws but they thought it had already been fixed when they paid P80,000.
He said after the first time, he had asked to be informed about the log in and log out procedures so they will not commit the same mistake again.
However, Tindog again asked them to give P110,000 sometime February 18 which they negotiated to be lowered to P50,000.
“We have done a mistake we paid money… we have to comply direct what happens and then now, two days ago it happened again and we have a violation again. What he wants to collect is P110,000 and then I told him ‘no, sorry… but we’re only missing a little bit small paper’ and then he said ‘when you pay me P70,000 again then everything will be settled, nothing will be filed,” Dirk said.
Tindog is currently suspended for 90 days.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_pBt0Xqur8&feature=youtu.be
