Interaksyon.com reports that on Saturday, January 21, former National Bureau of Investigation chief Atty. Magtanggol Gatdula "cried foul over the extortion and kidnapping accusations hurled against him and said he is determined to clear his name."

As the report noted, "Gatdula was fired from his post last week for his alleged involvement in the extortion and kidnapping of an undocumented 32-year-old Japanese woman, Noriyo Ohara, in October 2011."

Interaksyon.com quoted Gatdula who, in an interview over Radyo Singko, said,"I was not given a chance to confront those accusing me. They ruined my reputation." He clarified that he "knew nothing of the extortion charges that Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima had linked him to last week."


The report noted: "Gatdula said he is not questioning being fired since he serves at the pleasure of President Benigno Aquino III. What he feels bad about is the manner he was removed."

The report added that "Gatdula maintained he was not aware of any such activity and vowed to continue fighting to remove the stain to an otherwise sterling 40-year career." He said, "Siguro naman, sa edad kong ito, sa antas ng edukasyon, hindi ako ganoon ka babaw. Wala akong intensyon kundi ayusin ‘yung bureau eh (At my age, with my level of education, I would not be so shallow. I have no intention but to clean up the bureau)."

Meanwhile, according to the report, President Nonoy Aquino has already ordered the DOJ to find a replacement for Gatdula.

For more on this story, log on to Interaksyon.com.