BY JEFFREY DAMICOG
The Department of Justice (DoJ) will discuss the disbarment of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) lawyer who was arrested for allegedly asking P200,000 from a Bureau of Immigration (BI) official tagged in the “pastillas” scheme.
“We’ll consider this action after the inquest resolution,” said DoJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra Thursday. “Will discuss it with the NBI,” he added.
Lawyer Joshua Paul Capiral, NBI legal assistance bureau chief, and his brother, BI official Christopher John Capiral, were presented for inquest before the DoJ Wednesday for robbery-extortion in violation of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Executive Order No. 608, Series of 2007 Establishing a National Security Clearance System for Government Personnel with Access to Classified Matters and for Other Purposes; and violating Republic Act 7613, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees.
The Capiral brothers were arrested in an entrapment operation Monday by the NBI Special Action Unit led by lawyer Emeterio Dongallo Jr.
The operation was conducted based on the complaint of BI official Jeffrey Dale Salamde Ignacio.
Ignacio said the Capiral brothers asked P200,000 from him in exchange for dropping the charges in connection with the pastillas bribery scheme.
The NBI filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman last Sept. 1 against 19 BI officials and personnel, including Ignacio, for their involvement in the scheme.
