Relieved NBI exec releases video showing Napoles visiting ex-NBI director Rojas

Relieved National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda released a close-circuit television (CCTV) video which shows alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles visiting the office of then NBI director Nonnatus Rojas, months before the pork barrel scam became public.

In the security video, exclusively presented by Esmeralda to GMA News' “24 Oras”, Napoles and an unidentified woman can be seen, sitting on a sofa in Rojas' NBI office waiting area.



“Pinatawag natin yung mga tao sa office ng director, pinapunta ko sila sa office ko, at dun namin sila kinonfront. Kasama natin si [Deputy] Director [Ruel] Lasala, andun din siya,” claimed Esmeralda, recounting what he did after learning of Napoles' visit.

“Tinanong namin yung dalawang ahente [ng office of the director]. Yung isang ahente, na abogado, hinawakan pa nga ni Napoles yung kamay niya, saka pinagsabihan siya na, 'Ikaw, iho, maganda yung aura mo.' Tinignan daw yung palad niya, saka hinulaan pa siya na maganda daw yung future niya sa NBI.”

Esmeralda said the meeting between Napoles and Rojas took place on May 23, 2013 and lasted for three hours, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

However, the date stamp seen on the CCTV video was September 10, 2013, Tuesday. Napoles had been detained in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna since September 1, 2013.

“Hindi kasi naka-synch yung CCTV ng office ng NBI director,” Esmeralda said, maintaining that the meeting took place earlier that year.

Esmeralda pointed out that two weeks after Napoles and Rojas, on  June 10, Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera dismissed the serious illegal detention case filed by the NBI against Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim for the alleged detention of Benhur Luy, the primary whistleblower in the pork scam case.

The NBI appealed the case before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) which then issued an arrest warrant against Napoles on August 14, 2013.

On Agust 28, 2013 Napoles surrended to President Benigno Aquino III himself in Malacañang, after evading arrest for two weeks.

Roxas is not seen in the CCTV footage presented by Esmeralda.

Insinuations of irregularity and wrongdoing

In a text message sent to GMA News, Rojas confirmed that Napoles came to his office on May 2013 to inquire on the status of her serious illegal detention case.

“Janet Napoles, accompanied by her lawyer, went to the NBI Office way back before her warrant of arrest was issued, during the pendency of the serious illegal detention case and were advised of the status of their case,” read Rojas' message.

“The NBI submitted exhaustive documents to the investigating prosecutor that resulted in the filing of the case in court and the subsequent issuance of the warrants of arrest.”

Rojas added that Napoles' present detention was the result of the hard and honest work of the many dedicated men and women of the NBI.

“Any insinuation of irregularity and wrongdoing is strongly and flatly denied. We have always aspired for the highest levels of professionalism.”

Rojas resigned from the NBI in September of last year, after President Aquino himself ordered an investigation on the top executives of the bureau who might have tipped off Napoles on her arrest warrant.

Raising hell

Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima recommended to Aquino that NBI deputy directors Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala be replaced due to "lingering integrity issues", as they were allegedly involved in tipping off to Napoles on her impending arrest.

“Publiko na ang magdedecide dyan, kapag napanood nila [ang CCTV video.] Kaming dalawa ay walang kaugnayan kay Mrs. Napoles. Malinis ang aming konsenya, walang kaming links, wala kami koneksyon at ni minsan ay hindi namin nakita sa personal si Mrs. Napoles,” Lasala on “24 Oras”.

De Lima, meanwhile, refused to comment on the Esmeralda video, as she had yet to view it.



The Justice Secretary had earlier questioned the motives of Esmeralda and Lasala in attempting to taint the reputation of the NBI.

“I was warned na sa pag-recommend ko na tanggalin sila, they are going to be defiant, that they would not take this sitting down, that they would try to raise hell,” De Lima said an earlier report.

"Bakit ngayon lang nila nilalabas iyan. I will have that checked. May naririnig akong ganyan before but they never brought that up to me. Parang sinasadya nila na may hinahawakan silang ganyan [evidence]," she added. — Elizabeth Marcelo/DVM, GMA News