De Lima: 2 ex-NBI execs should have been sacked sooner

If only Justice Secretary Leila de Lima knew two National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy directors would eventually turn against her, she would have had them eased out of service much sooner.

In an interview with reporters in Manila, De Lima said she "regretted" not recommending the dismissal of former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala earlier.

Following their dismissal from service earlier this month, Lasala and Esmeralda insisted - contrary to accusations hurled against them - they have no connections with alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, who is currently facing plunder charges over the alleged diversion of P10 billion in government funds.

The two were dismissed by President Benigno Aquino III upon the recommendation of De Lima.

De Lima also admitted "feeling bad" over the dismissed NBI officials' accusations, but added that she was still trying to control her emotions about the situation.

She said it was obvious that Esmeralda and Lasala's "motive (was to) link people close to (De Lima) to Napoles.

De Lima was, of course, referring to her former husband Plaridel Bohol and former NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas, both of whom Esmeralda and Lasala had claimed met with Napoles at Rojas' office some time in May when she was still being hunted by authorities.

De Lima and Bohol had their marriage annulled in 2001, according to earlier reports.

Rojas has already confirmed that the meeting with Napoles took place but said there was nothing irregular about it. Bohol meanwhile said he was not accompanying Napoles to Rojas' office, but merely happened to be there to personally extend a birthday greeting to the then NBI chief.

An ad hoc committee from the National Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating Esmeralda and Lasala's accusations. The sacked officials earlier bared closed-circuit television footage of the supposed meeting between Napoles and Rojas.

Meanwhile, the NBI ad hoc body is set to send summonses to NBI agents said to have seen the meeting take place.

Lasala and Esmeralda have already indicated they will contest their dismissal at the Supreme Court. — JDS, GMA News