NBI agents to be probed for roughing up driver

For allegedly ganging up on a newspaper delivery van driver following a traffic altercation in Manila, a team of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents found themselves in hot water. The NBI agents were ordered investigated especially after trying to hide the incident from media representatives who tried to help the driver. “Huminto sila, doon pa lang binugbog ako ... (Natakot ako) dahil baka dito ka mamatay (They stopped their vehicle, came out, then beat me up. I am scared staying at the NBI headquarters because I might die here)," driver George Lagua told QTV-11 television. Lagua is a driver of a delivery van of “Remate" newspaper. He said the altercation took place near the Quezon Bridge in Manila’s Quiapo district before dawn Saturday. He said the NBI agents beat him up on the spot, then brought him to the NBI office along Taft Avenue in Manila for another round of beating. Reporters at the nearby Manila Police District headquarters rushed to the NBI Anti-Illegal Drugs unit office at NBI headquarters, but the agents tried to keep them outside. “Labas muna kayo ... pabigla-bigla kayo pumasok (Stay out of here. You can’t just barge in here like that)," an unnamed NBI agent told the reporters. Another agent was overheard telling Lagua, “sa prosecutor’s office ka na magpaliwanag. Kakasuhan ka namin (You give your explanation to the prosecutor because we’ll sue you)." The agents refused to answer media representatives’ questions on why they failed to turn over Lagua to the Manila Police District Traffic Enforcement Group (MTEG). During the interview with Lagua, the lights went out inside the NBI building. When informed of what happened, National Press Club (NPC) vice president Benny Antiporda promised to lodge a complaint with the NBI hierarchy. For his part, NBI Metro Manila unit head Ruel Lasala said he has ordered an investigation into the incident. - GMANews.TV