NBI files charges vs Boratong’s henchmen

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed charges of obstruction of justice against three alleged henchmen of suspected big-time illegal drug trafficker Amin Boratong before the Makati City prosecutor’s office yesterday.

Agent Roel Bolivar, of the NBI-Reaction Arrest and Interdiction Division, said the three — Charlie Valencia, Johnny Fernandez and Jabbar Macasampal — reportedly acted as security men for Boratong and his wife Sheryl Morela.

"We received information that Boratong hired the security guards to protect him. We are still conducting a manual check of our records to determine if they had any derogatory records," Bolivar said.

However, the three said they were unaware that they were working for a suspected wanted criminal because he used an alias, Johnny Dizon.

Bolivar added that aside from the three men, Boratong had another team in his employ "escort and protect his family so they would not be kidnapped by other groups who might be after him. He also claims to be receiving death threats."

The NBI also disclosed that Boratong’s relatives have allegedly made attempts to bribe them with P4 million.

This prompted the NBI to set up an entrapment operation that was set for last Wednesday. But it didn’t push through because the arresting officers were called to Macalañang and present Boratong to President Arroyo.

Boratong is one of the most wanted drug traffickers. According to the PNP, Boratong has allegedly been involved in the illegal drug trade since 1997, raking up to P900 million.

In February, the police raided a shabu tiangge in Pasig City, only a few blocks from the city hall. Several police officers were relieved following suspicion that they were on Boratong’s payroll.

Boratong’s former lieutenant, Samer Palao, who has turned state witness, said his former boss could still run his business by "remote control" despite his arrest in Makati City last Tuesday.

"Amin still has several tentacles outside. He can still run his business via cell phone," Palao said. But he acknowledged that Boratong’s operations would be crippled by his arrest. — With Non Alquitran