NBI agent belies missing lumber as Muslim trader keeps mum on the issue
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) supervising agent Jeremiah Sargado denied reports that part of the 29,158.35 board feet of confiscated lumber (tablon) from Abdul Wahab Karim was stolen by government agents and were used to construct their houses.
Sargado with codename Maya led the confiscation of Karim's shipment last December 16, 2004 at Muelle Loney, City Proper. Sargado issued the statement after he sought clearance from NBI Regional Director Mario Sison to speak on the issue.
A source earlier disclosed that though the confiscation was made during the time of former NBI Regional Director Oscar Embido the lumbers only start disappearing during the time of Sison.
The News Today has yet to divulge the names of those responsible for the missing lumbers but Sargado took the liberty of answering media queries being the supervising agent of the case.
He said all the 29,158.35 board feet of confiscated lumber are being kept in Karim's stock yard in Compania Central, Molo. He claimed not a single lumber was placed at the NBI compound.
He claimed the lumber left in front of their office do not belong to Karim. It was confiscated in different operation. Sargado, however failed to identify the owner of the confiscated lumber placed at the right portion of the NBI compound.
Sargado added that Karim was allowed to keep the confiscated lumber in his stockyard after he and former NBI Regional Director signed a waiver of undertaking. The waiver of undertaking was notarized by a certain Atty. Conlu.
Sargado said the waiver of undertaking was made as there is no place in the NBI compound where they could place all of the confiscated lumber.
He said the NBI could not have a warehouse of its own for lack of funds.
When asked if the bureau always do this practice, Sargado said such arrangement was made only in Karim's case. He said the volume of confiscated lumber needs a wide area and it could occupy the entire compound of the NBI if placed there.
Sargado assured being the supervising agent, he regularly checks on the on the confiscated lumber stocked in Karim's warehouse.
Moreover, Sargado said he was ordered by Sison to submit a report regarding the alleged missing lumber owned by a Muslim trader. He also pinpoints the blame to the City Prosecutors Office why until now the complaint has yet to be resolved.
Meanwhile, Abdul Wahab Karim refused to confirm the report that the undocumented lumbers were left at the NBI compound while the other 29,158.35 board feet are kept in his bodega.
Karim when reached for comment in his stockyard last Friday said he will just speak out after the Ramadan.