Businessman Ongpin wants criminal raps junked, says complainant a ‘disgruntled’ worker

Former Trade Minister and billionnaire businessman Roberto Ongpin has asked the Deparment of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the criminal complaints lodged against him, insisting that the complainant was merely one of his "disgruntled employees."

In a 12-page counter-affidavit, Ongpin, a former trade minister, maintained that he was innocent of the charges made by former PhilWeb employee Eduveges Batalan, and called as "absurd" Batalan's claim that he — Ongpin — masterminded a conspiracy to detain, rob, and coerce him at the Alphaland Balesin Island Club in Polilio, Quezon.

Ongpin, who was accused of committing serious illegal detention, grave coercion, and robbery, admitted that he met with Batalan at the country club on February 4, 2014 but said it was merely coincidental and not part of any conspiracy against him.

Contrary to the complainant's claim, Ongpin said he never instructed any of his staff to bring Batalan to Balesin from Metro Manila. Ongpin said he was later informed that Batalan was in Balesin to conduct an inventory of his (Ongpin's) personal collection of wines and liquor.

"After confessing that he had systematically stolen millions from me and from companies I hold interest in, thereafter agreeing to full restitution of the embezzled funds, he suddenly decided to evade responsibility for his wrongdoing by fabricating the baseless criminal charges," he said.

Ongpin said that the flight manifest of the private plane that Batalan took going to Polilio would show that he was meant to be at the country club for only a few hours, disproving the victim's claim that Ongpin had intended to have him detained for several days on the island.

"I never insinuated that he could not go home or that he would 'rot' on Balesin," said Ongpin.

Ongpin however admitted that he had previously ordered a "lifestyle check" on several of his employees, including Batalan, after discovering that two employees had stolen money from him. The businessman said criminal complaints have already been filed against two employees.

As for Balesin, Ongpin said that when he found out  on February 4 that Batalan was on his country club, he decided to confront him and ask him to explain how he managed to purchase a new house, cars, tricycles, sari-sari store and a pharmacy business, as revealed by the lifestyle check.

Ongpin claimed Batalan did not deny purchasing the properties or putting up the businesses. He said Batalan then begged if he could stay on the island longer to settle the matter with his boss, explaining his three-day stay at Balesin.

During his stay, Batalan allegedly executed an affidavit admitting to having stolen from Ongpin and that he was willing to return what he had taken. The admission was later notarized.

Ongpin said he was reserving his right to file separate libel charges against Batalan for accusing him of engaging in insider stock trading and stock market manipulation.

In the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation on behalf of Batalan, the former employee claimed he was brought to the Balesin Island Resort in Polilio, Quezon, where Ongpin confronted him for "stealing millions from [the businessman's] company."
 
"Batalan was informed by Ongpin that the former has been under surveillance for three months and should explain why he has a good house, cars and a pharmacy business," the NBI said in its complaint against Ongpin and the others.
 
"Batalan was threatened to be stuck in the island unless he tells everything. Further he was also threatened that should he not cooperate, he would be charged similarly as that of Josefino Sasat and Brinia Flojemon, former employees of Ongpin who were charged of stealing and misdemeanor," the complaint added. —KBK, GMA News