NBI's Lotoc on facing cases: 'That's the price we pay for doing our job' 

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, a witness presented by the House prosecution panel, said that it is entirely normal for law enforcement officers to face cases due to the nature of their job.

Lotoc said this on the fifth day of the impeachment trial, after senator-judge Robin Padilla asked if any cases were filed against him throughout the 12 years he has worked for the NBI.

“Your Honor, normal ho sa mga NBI agents na makakasuhan. In fact, maging sa sinumang law enforcement agency,” Lotoc said.

(Your Honor, it is normal for NBI agents to face cases. In fact, this applies to any law enforcement agency.)

“That's the price we pay for doing our job and for protecting the country. As a matter of fact, in the NBI, Your Honor, we avoid the noise; we just finish the job,” he added.

Lotoc said that he has not yet received any official case from the Ombudsman, but admitted seeing a complaint coursed through the NBI.

He said he previously asked his colleagues to check the validity and authenticity of the complaint, and later found that a Makati court had issued a certification declaring that its notarization was fake.

“So, sabi ko, ‘wag niyo nang pansinin; marami tayong trabaho. Kung fake ‘yung notaryo na ‘yan, mere scrap of paper ‘yan. ‘Wag na nating pansinin,” he continued.

(I told my colleagues, don't pay attention to it, we have a lot of work to do. If the notary is fake, it's just a mere scrap of paper. Don't pay attention to it.)

The NBI official also said that he is awaiting the Office of the Ombudsman to notify him regarding the matter, committing that he is ready to answer at any time.

“‘Di ba po dapat ang reaksyon ng isang tao kapag may kaso, harapin?” Padilla asked when he found out that Lotoc had yet to answer the complaint.

(Shouldn’t a person’s initial reaction when facing a case is to face it head-on?)

Padilla also asked Lotoc why he thinks he was appointed as NBI regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and if he knows anything about Islam.

Lotoc said he only knows a little about Islam as he is a Catholic.—LDF, GMA News