Atty. Jose Max Ortiz, legal counsel to businesswoman Catherine Berioso-Cabuga, recently revealed he may file a complaint against certain agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Region VI (NBI-6) regarding charges filed against him in connection to the alleged ambush of Atty. Erfe del Castillo, which took place last December.

He questioned why charges were filed before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office before gathering testimony from the respondents named in the case, along with why Iloilo agents were handling the case and not personnel from the Bacolod City office.

Ortiz said his inclusion in the case is “baseless” and also announced plans to file a P20 million suit with regard to the accusations.

Earlier this month, del Castillo filed criminal charges against Ortiz; Berioso-Cabuga, who also goes by the name ‘Kate Brios;’ along with Berioso-Cabuga’s mother Shirley Berioso and sister Caselyn Berioso.

Five police officers were also named, including former Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo; former acting BCPO director, Police Superintendent Richie Yatar; Police Senior Inspector James Adrian Albaytar; Senior Police Officer 2 Joshua Barile; and Police Officer 3 Ronald Ortiz.

Another suspect is a member of the media, whose name is being withheld by Watchmen Daily Journal.

Del Castillo claimed the suspects conspired to kill her, naming Berios-Cabuga as the “mastermind.”

“I am a thorn on her neck,” she said, adding, the ambush stemmed from a dispute between Berioso-Cabuga and her husband, particularly over the Metro Inn Hotel in Bacolod City.

The plaintiff serves as legal counsel to Berioso-Cabuga’s estranged husband, Francis./DGB, WDJ