26 July 2005 – The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that it has instructed its Regional Consular Office in Cebu (RCO-Cebu) to closely coordinate and cooperate with the with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman there regarding the case of Mr. Jackel E. Zulita, a contractual employee who was apprehended on 13 July 2005 by local NBI Agents during an entrapment operation for alleged extortion.

According to the report of the Officer-in-Charge of the RCO-Cebu Mr. Angel D. Espiritu, Mr. Zulita is a staff of the Research and Investigation Group (RIG) of the RCO, which conducts investigations into passport applications with discrepancies and passport irregularities, among others.

Mr. Espiritu informed the Department that at around 1:30 p.m. on 13 July, NBI operatives from Cebu and Bohol apprehended Mr. Zulita at the RCO’s conference room where he usually conducts investigations on RIG cases.  The NBI operatives found Mr. Zulita with the marked money worth P8,000 and thereupon confiscated his cellular phone and brought him to the NBI Headquarters in Cebu City along with the complainant Ms. Remedios G. Dunlap of Calape, Bohol, who is the passport applicant being investigated by Mr. Zulita.

Based on information gathered by the RCO, the complainant Ms. Dunlap was having problems with her passport application that was being processed by Mr. Zulita.  Ms. Dunlap first filed her application on 22 June and was allegedly informed by Mr. Zulita that he could work on her passport application if she gave him P8,000.  On 06 July, Ms. Dunlap sought the help of the NBI.

The Department has also instructed the RCO to conduct its own inquiry and make its recommendations to the DFA Home Office on the matter.  Meanwhile, Mr. Espiritu reported that they have taken preventive measures such as placing Mr. Zulita on leave until 15 August, pending the completion of the NBI’s investigation.

Based on the coordination between the RCO and NBI Cebu, Mr. Espiritu informed that the Bureau, based on the results of its initial investigation, would be filing the appropriate criminal charges against Mr. Zulita.  The Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu is also considering filing the corresponding administrative charges against Mr. Zulita.

The RCO has assured the Department that it will maintain full cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Cebu regarding the case against Mr. Zulita and will provide  continuous public service to the clients of RCO Cebu. END
 
 
 
 

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