By LITO RULONA Correspondent REGIONAL state prosecutor Jaime Umpa yesterday denied that authorities violated the law on data privacy even as he called the countercharge of alleged case fixer Genard Abejo as an attempt to keep a “crime syndicate” from being exposed. Umpa noted that Abejo, an administrative aide at the City Prosecutor’s Office who was caught by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during an entrapment in Gusa, filed a complaint for violation of the data privacy law following reports that the names of prosecutors suspected to be involved in the fixing of cases would be submitted to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. “Kinahanglan mahibalo pud ang katawan kung kinsa ang na-involved ani nga sindikato para masayod kitang tanan ilabi na kung aduna kita’y kaso nga sila ang naghawid,” Umpa said. He said the data from the cellphones seized from Abejo show the extent of the case-fixing problem in the city, and those who are believed to be involved. The CIDG and Camp Alagar’s cybercrime unit did the right thing, said Umpa, pointing out that Abejo was arrested during a legitimate police operation. Umpa said he has instructed his subordinates to prepare to answer Abejo’s complaint. Last week, Abejo filed the complaint against Umpa, assistant regional state prosecutor Irene Meso, acting city prosecutor Merlyn Uy, Chief Insp. Melgar Devaras of the CIDG here, Chief Insp. Berlito de Guzman,  and PO1 Jun Raagas of the Anti-Cyber Crime Group. Abejo also filed a petition in court for the issuance of a writ of habeas data against the prosecutors and the police. The petition seeks to destroy copies of the data and prevent authorities from copying, distributing and using these as evidence. “Misubay kami sa balaod. Ang pagpangilkil ni Abejo sa mga tawo is, dugay na kini. The available remedy on the part of the enforcers is to carry out an entrapment,” he said. The CIDG said Abejo was caught with money given by the mothers of respondents in a rape complaint who were allegedly promised that the case would be dismissed in exchange for the bribe. Abejo has denied that he asked money from the women. Umpa argued that it was in flagrante delicto--meaning, Abejo was caught in the act of committing an offense. “The raid is valid and the law enforcers have the power to search Abejo, which includes his belongings like the cellphones para makita kung kinsa iyang mga kauban sa illegal transaction,” he said. Umpa said Abejo and other suspects were clearly afraid because the data from the seized cellphones were damning evidence. “Dinha nakita ang tanan nila nga illegal transaction which include sa ilang pagpangayo og kuwarta. Og tungod kay medyo mahadlok sila, nag-file sila og petition for a writ of habeas data and a complaint for violation of privacy,” he said.