NLRC OFFICIAL STAFF INVESTIGATED FOR EXTORTION
- Friday, 11 November 2011
Authorities are digging into the possible involvement of a National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) executive in a highly publicized extortion case involving his own office staff. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now questioning NLRC Commissioner Numeriano Villena, whose staff identified as; Beverly Cadiz Israel was caught red-handed last week in a well-executed and documented entrapment by the NBI after extorting Php200,000 from a complainant in a pending illegal dismissal case against one of the country’s leading fast food chains.
Commissioner Villena is a political prote’ge’ of incumbent First District Congressman Danilo Ramon “Dan” Fernandez through whose intervention Villena was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as NLRC Commissioner in 2009.
If found guilty of involvement in this extortion case, Villena, who is due to retire soon, will be held criminally liable that may will lead to imprisonment and forfeiture of his retirement benefits.
Some quarters in the NLRC feared a white wash or cover up in the investigation of Villena as rumors circulate that he will cleared of the charges but will be forced to retire within the next three to six months. Israel,who is now detained at the NBI, was caught on camera by the coverage teams of Ibaa Balita ni Anthony Taberna of Studio 23 and the evening news program of IBC 13 last November 2, 2011. Studio 23 is a sister station of the giant ABS-CBN network.
Based on Iba Balita’s account of the extortion case, Israel approached the complainant named “Francis” with a promise that his illegal dismissal case will be resolved by the NLRC in his favor. “Francis” immediately went to the NBI to complain.
Israel and “Francis” subsequently met in a restaurant where the NLRC staff handed him a copy of a decision purportedly signed by NLRC Commissioner Suelo. “Francis” then handed her a package contining Php 200,000 marked money prepared by the NBI.
The TV coverage teams secretly followed her tracks on herway back to the NLRC Building where she proceeded directly to Commissioner Villena’s office. It was then that the NBI operatives suddenly entered Villena’s office who himself was visibly surprised by the presence of the NBI agents.
Asked by the TV reporter, if he had an involvement in the extortion, Villena hesitantly denied participation in front of the camera. Asked again, if he was aware that his office was being used for extortion activities at the NLRC, Villena could only reply “I really don’t know”. ( Arlene P. Mariposque)
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