Late NBI official caused arrest of many Abu Sayyaf bandits, says Guevarra

The death of NBI counter-terrorism chief Raoul Manguerra was a major loss for the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.

Guevarra said Manguerra caused the arrest several terrorists during his watch.

“Chief Manguerra was the head of the anti-terrorist division of the NBI that was responsible for the arrest of scores of Abu Sayyaf fighters throughout the country, including in Metro Manila,” Guevarra said in a statement.

Manguerra died past midnight on Tuesday. He had a "gunshot wound in the abdomen" and was declared dead on arrival at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

Guevarra said he preferred the NBI to first examine all angles on the case before making a public statement.

“I’d rather that the NBI make a public statement after they have exhaustively examined all possible angles. Baka tonight may linaw na ‘yan,” he said.

The NBI has ordered an investigation and a lockdown of the premises following the incident. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News