NBI: 'CHEMIST DID IT'

Missing Shabu

A former chemist of the National Bureau of Investigation has been
identified by the NBI as being behind the disappearance of more than seven
kilograms of shabu from the bureau's evidence room.

Howell M. Mapoy, 29, a resident of Grand Town Village, Sumapang Matanda,
Malolos, Bulacan, and formerly a chemist in the NBI Forensic Chemistry
Division, was presented to the media at the NBI headquarters Friday.

Domestic intelligence chief Anthony Liongson lashed out at Mapoy during the
presentation saying, "Tarantado! (Idiot!) We work hard to take care of the
bureau's name and look what you did!"

NBI employees said Mapoy had cried before he was presented to the press. He
denied pilfering the 7.3 kilos of shabu, they said.

The NBI believes otherwise.

NBI acting director Fermin N. Nasol said Mapoy failed the lie-detector test
and his salary is not commensurate with his lifestyle.

When he was arrested Thursday in his house, Mapoy also had 20.58 grams of
shabu, the NBI officials said.

Lawyer Rustico Vigilia, NBI domestic intelligence field operations chief,
said Mapoy pilfered the shabu from March 1, 2001 until the pilferage was
discovered in April.

"Being a chemist, he had access to the bureau's evidence room," Vigilia
said. "The keys were just in a file cabinet."

He said Mapoy and his relatives apparently sold the shabu that he took from
the NBI evidence room.

When the bureau began investigating the pilferage, Mapoy "immediately filed
a request for transfer to the Bureau of Mines even though his appointment
papers were not yet in order at that time," Nasol said.

Mapoy joined the NBI in 1997. He allegedly tried to transfer to the Bureau
of Mines on May 13, Nasol said.

The chemist went on leave to "avoid being (investigated)," he added.

When it was reported that three FCD officials had been relieved for the
loss of the shabu, Mapoy came back to the bureau on May 28 to retrieve his
personal belongings.

"He was quizzed and he underwent (the) polygraph test which was routinely
done to all FCD personnel," Nasol said. Mapoy failed the test, he said.

Nasol said investigators also found out that Mapoy was "living beyond his
means."

"His monthly income is disproportionate to the high amortization of his
lot, daily family sustenance, payment for his brand-new scooter and an
air-conditioned residence," Nasol said.

NBI agents applied for an arrest warrant from Manila Regional Trial Court
Branch 7 Judge Enrico Lanzanas and arrested the suspect on Thursday morning
in Malolos.

Vigilia said Mapoy would be charged with possession of illegal drugs. The
NBI is also studying filing qualified theft charges against him, Vigilia added.