DOJ ORDERS FILING OF CHARGES AGAINST VIDAL DOBLE
7 November 2007
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has ordered the NBI to file criminal charges against former ISAFP technical sergeant Vidal Doble, Jr. for violation of the anti-wiretapping law.
Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, currently designated Officer-in-Charge in behalf of Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, said the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office has already assigned a team of prosecutors to handle the investigation of the said complaint.
Following a report submitted by NBI Deputy Dir. For Intelligence, Atty. Ruel Lasala , the bureau has been directed to charge Doble before the Pasay City Pros' Office based on a complaint affidavit submitted by NBI Head Agent Regner Peneza, Chief of the Counter-Intelligence Division, that the former agent is liable for violation of Sections 1 and 2 of Republic Act 4200 otherwise known as “The Anti-Wiretapping Law”. It said the offense was committed on September 7, 17, 25 and October 1, 2007.
In his complaint affidavit, Agent Peneza disclosed that in the hearings of the Joint Committees on National Defense and Security, Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation (Blue Ribbon), and Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws at the Senate, on the said dates, Doble described in detail specific acts in violation of the wiretapping law such as, a) he monitored, taped and transcribed conversations of particular cellular phones; b) he reduced into tapes and CDs and made several copies thereof; c) he did the foregoing from Sept. 3, 2003 to April 2005; d) he is aware that wiretapping was an illegal activity; e)he knew that there was no court order allowing the wiretapping; f) he gave some master tapes above-mentioned to one named Angelito Santiago, who in turn, gave the same to Atty. Samuel Ong, a former Deputy director for Intelligence Services of the NBI; g). that he received Two Million Pesos (Php 2,000,000) from the said tapes).
On September 3, 2007 NBI Agent Peneza was earlier ordered by Acting Deputy Dir. for Intelligence, Atty. Edward A. Villarta to monitor the proceedings at the Senate, especially those that have bearing on violations of criminal laws.
Pursuant to RA 157, and upon its own initiative and as public interest may require, the NBI has the power to undertake investigations of crimes and other offenses against the laws of the Philippines.
Due to wide publicity on the alleged wiretapping activities, the bureau took interest in intently monitoring the hearings of the Committees, where Doble, under oath, testified in detail on the alleged wiretapping he conducted.
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