By Benjamin Pulta

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MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday announced the filing of criminal charges against one of its agents who acted improperly during a raid last Sept. 11 on a Makati clinic allegedly operating without a license.

The operation resulted in the arrest of three women: Vietnamese national Nguyen Thu Ha aka Mei Naa, and her Filipino employees –Demi Robles and Mary Frinces Dalaguite.

NBI director Jaime Santiago ordered the filing of criminal charges following an investigation by the Internal Affairs Division (IAD).

He also ordered the temporary grounding of the NBI’s Special Task Force (STF), an ad hoc team which handles national security related cases.

“When the report came in positive, the Director himself confronted the agent involved. In his embarrassment, the agent decided to tender his resignation from the service which was accepted by the Director. Knowing that a mere resignation was not enough, the NBI also filed the appropriate criminal charge against the said agent before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City,” the NBI said.

The statement did not elaborate on the identity of the NBI employee and the case filed.

“The filing of cases underscores the policy of non-tolerance for any improper and irregular behavior. This incident, however, exceeds mere impropriety and irregularity by far. It is illegal, unlawful, unethical, gruesome, grotesque and outrightly unacceptable,” Santiago said. (PNA)