NBI doing own probe on US state senator’s alleged firearms smuggling

The National Bureau of Investigation has started working on its own investigation into the alleged involvement of a US state senator in the illegal trade of firearms with rebels in Mindanao.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima confirmed that the NBI has finished an "initial" probe on the matter.

"But limited lang muna doon iyong pag-verify ng the presence nung US [state] senator na iyan na nabanggit sa [FBI] report," said De Lima, adding that the lawmaker in question, California state senator Leland Yee, had visited the Philippines only once.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, Yee was part of a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and to illegally import firearms from a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines.

Yee was arrested in March on charges of corruption and alleged conspiracy to illegally trade in firearms. The FBI affidavit also claims that Yee has associates in the Philippines "trying to overthrow the current government."

"We felt that it is important to us also to try to verify lalo na iyong mga supposed travel of that US [state] senator here in the Philippines," De Lima said.

"We know exactly the month, year and the dates," she added, but refused to elaborate.

The Justice Secretary clarified that even though the NBI has not yet been "formally" tapped by US authorities to look into the matter, the bureau just the same has started "working on it" and "verifying" certain information on the supposed firearms smuggling.

"I am not sure if there is already an official request coming from the US government probably coursed through our Interpol-NBI, but of course it is something that interests us," she said.  

The MILF has already denied any dealings with Yee. — BM, GMA News