THREE MEN who posed as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) XI were arrested after they attempted to prevent police officers from serving the warrant of arrest against a wanted businessman.
They were identified as Welhem Pocot Cubelo, 40, businessman, and a resident of FS Pajares St. Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur; Mario Pasagdan Quisada, 48, and a resident of Madaum, Tagum City, and Matias Cande Relacion, 50, and a resident of Km. 15, Barangay Indangan, Buhangin District.
Also arrested was Jonathan James Arce Chu, 30, a resident of Garcia Heights, Barangay 19-B.
He was the subject of the warrant of arrest for estafa through falsification of public documents under criminal case No. 10474 issued by Presiding Judge Caroline Roxas-Jaucian of Regional Trial Court Branch 26, San Fernando City, La Union.
DCPO director Col. Kirby John Kraft said that a walk-in informant told police that Chu was sighted and escorted by three NBI agents along Sandawa Road, Barangay 76-A.
A team was immediately organized to serve the warrant, and it was led by Maj. Milan, elements of the Tugbok Police Station, led by Major Ricky Obenza, and elements of Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) team, led by Capt. Manuel Kristian Sargado.
At 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, while the operatives were serving the warrant, the three men who wore NBI uniforms tried to intervene. Upon verification, they were found to be civilian agents of the NBI-Tagum City.
Recovered from their possession were firearms with loaded magazines, an NBI badge without a serial number, firearm registration ID, license to carry permit, and cellular phones. The Ford Ranger Raptor was also impounded by the police.
In a separate interview, NBI XI spokesperson Joel Ayop, rued the incident.
“They are not organic personnel but they dragged the name of the bureau,” Ayop said. “Let them face the legal consequence. After all, they are not part or connected with the NBI.”
He also said the three suspects were just using fake NBI badges. They were brought to the Special Operations Group of the DCPO for processing.
