Plot thickens in NBI-Army assault case

The plot thickened in what appeared to be a simple assault case between agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and a Philippine Army team in barangay Ambuan, Catigbian town last month.

The Post broke an exclusive story last week about two NBI agents being assaulted by army troopers after a call for assistance for indiscriminate firing. The incident resulted in the filing of at least three criminal cases against seven army personnel led by 2nd Lt. Roldan Castillo, team leader of the Special Operations Team assigned in Ambuan, Catigbian. The complaints were filed at the Ombudsman for Military Affairs (OMA) by NBI supervising Agent Ely Tolentino and sisters Janeth and Nancy Pabi in whose house the assault was made. There was no mention about indiscriminate firing in Tolentino's complaint to the OMA last week.

The Post however ran a statement from Army Civil Relations Service Team Leader Narciso Tabaniag Jr. about the indiscriminate firing angle. 2Lt. Castillo, who showed up during the radio program Kuentas Klaras over Station DYTR last Thursday pressed on the indiscriminate firing angle. The army official pointed to the group of Tolentino as having fired two shots on the evening of Feb. 3.

Subsequent accounts showed that those who fired the shots on the air were Claudio Pabi, uncle of Janeth and Edgar Pabi, Janeth's younger brother. As to how Tolentino's gun happened to get into the hands of the two Pabi's, nobody could actually tell. The army's presence in the Pabi household was in response to the call for assistance as a result of the firing incident, averred house owners Anelina and German Pabi in recant to an earlier affidavit issued February 27. While being accosted, NBI asset and Tolentino's back-up Joel Argao reportedly drew his .357 revolver. Responding army men saw this as clear and present danger situation. This also led them to dis-arm both men, notably having a drink too many. “The dis-arming was to prevent further threat to life and limb and to account for any damage the fired bullets could have cost,” Castillo said. The firing incident was substantiated by Ambuan barangay captain Juan Palma and Kag. Sixto Montero who both appeared in the DYTR radio program to belie the denial of Tolentino that there was no such thing as indiscriminate firing of guns.

According to Montero, the Tolentino group bought 3 cases of beer from his store on the early night of February 23. By about 10:00 , he could hear that the Tolentino group has become rowdy. His house was approximately 100 meters from the Pabi house. It was also found out during the subsequent investigations that Tolentino and Janeth Pabi are sweethearts. In fact, the reason why Tolentino was in the Pabi residence in Catigbian was because of his amorous relation with Janeth.

This was also a far tale from the “official mission” that the Post printed as gleaned from the Tolentino complaints signed by NBI lawyer Max Salvador. During the radio interview, Ambuan barangay captain Palma said Tolentino appeared the following day during the Barangay Council session. 2Lt Castillo was reportedly also there turning over the confiscated guns from Tolentino and his back-up, asset Joel Argao. Ambuan barangay council would have wanted to push the case but for purely human considerations, 2Lt Castillo reportedly begged for Tolentino to be absolved of the trouble. Sealing the amicable settlement, Palma officially returned Tolentino's guns as witnessed by the council. The following day, Tolentino filed the complaints against the army men for assault, illegal search and violation of domicile.