Were suspects La Salle students or not?

I am writing to call attention to the news report titled “3 La Salle students held over downers” (Inquirer, 12/19/12). The report noted that the three individuals who were placed under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation were students of our university.

As an educational institution that values its good name and reputation, the university deems it necessary to clarify the report. Last January, I, together with two other school administrators personally went to the NBI Special Investigative Services Unit in Taft Avenue, Manila, to verify the facts cited in the article. NBI’s special investigator, Luis Arteche himself, confirmed to us that he never intimated that the arrested individuals were students of DLSU-Dasmariñas.

Also, on Feb. 4, 2013, the NBI Special Investigative Services sent us an official response. We have a copy of the official statement of NBI-Manila regarding the matter and this we are ready and willing to share with any interested parties.

—ALBERT JOHN R. PUCHERO,

director, Student Welfare and Formation Office,

De La Salle University Dasmariñas

The information that the arrested suspects were La Salle students came from Special Investigator Salvador Arteche (who arrested the suspects in a buy-bust operation) and from the suspects themselves in an interview with reporters inside the National Bureau of Investigation Reaction, Arrest and Interdiction Division Office.

—NANCY C. CARVAJAL,

reporter, Inquirer