THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended Undersecretary Jesse Andres and Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz to temporarily lead the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the irrevocable resignation of Jaime Santiago last Friday.
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano yesterday said Andres was recommended because he is the official in charge of the law enforcement cluster in the DOJ, making him ideal to head the NBI in an acting capacity.
“We have endorsed some names to the Office of the President (to serve) in an acting capacity but in terms of the actual replacement, it is something that is being thoroughly studied,” Clavano said in Filipino in a chance interview with reporters.
Santiago, after Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the NBI, reiterated he will remain in the post until Malacañang finds a replacement.
He said this is “out of respect” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who appointed him to the post in June last year.
In his “irrevocable” resignation letter, sent to Marcos last Friday, Santiago said he could no longer stomach efforts to blemish his reputation despite measures he had implemented to purge the NBI of scalawags and removal of those who have committed serious infractions.
He said his efforts to rid the bureau of misfits culminated with the abolition of the Special Task Force after irregularities surfaced in an operation conducted in Bulacan that led to the arrest of nine Chinese nationals allegedly involved in the operation of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator or POGO.
“However, detractors and those who have sinister interest in my position incessantly make move to blemish my reputation. Those covert moves started when I tendered my courtesy resignation in response to your call. To my mind, lies if repeated overtime, will give a semblance of truth,” Santiago said in his resignation letter.
“I cannot allow this seemingly orchestrated move to blacken my reputation which I molded through the years,” he added.
Santiago said he retains the highest respect for the President and his immediate superior, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
He said he never got any illegal order from the President or Remulla during his tenure as NBI chief.
Santiago said Malacañang and the DOJ gave him a free hand in heading the NBI.
Meanwhile, Santiago told the NBI leadership and rank-and-file to just do their job.
He begged off from giving further interviews to the media regarding his resignation.
“I will step out silently. Please give me the space,” he added.
Clavano said while they are saddened and surprised by Santiago’s resignation, the DOJ’s focus now is the continuation of services and operation in the bureau.
“We have to move on as fast as possible so that there will be no interruption in the NBI, especially amid ongoing operations against the illegal POGO operation. Medyo nalulungkot at nagulat nga kami (We are sad and surprised) but there really is no time to waste and they have to find a suitable replacement,” Clavano said.
Despite his resignation, Clavano said, Santiago still enjoys Remulla’s trust and confidence.
“He is a man of principle. He is executing the policies to reform the NBI,” he added.
Asked as to specific issues that prompted Santiago to resign, Clavano said he is not privy to such things.
