NEWLY-APPOINTED National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago yesterday vowed to bring back the glory and prestige of the agency as the country’s foremost investigation unit.
Santiago made the promise when he took over from erstwhile Director Medardo de Lemos at the NBI headquarters in Quezon City.
De Lemos was supposed to retire last year but his stint was extended for a year by Malacanang.
“We will bring back the prestige, we will bring back the glory of the NBI. If that will happen in my time, then I am ready to die content and happy,” Santiago said when he formally accepted the mantle of NBI leadership.
Santiago, whose exploits as a sharpshooter of the Manila Police District Special Weapons and Tactics team were made into a movie in the 1990s before he left the service to become a lawyer and eventually a judge at the Manila and Tagaytay regional trial courts, added that he would put his “best foot forward” to ensure the NBI would fully perform its mandate.
He said his appointment as the new NBI director was the culmination of his life-long dream, a dream that he said he was not able to pursue in his younger years as he instead joined the police force.
Santiago said he first worked at the NBI as a records checker from 1977 to 1979 but did not become a regular employee.
“I will give this all. I love the NBI. I will not fail you; we will bring back the glory days and we will endeavor to bring the NBI closer to the people,” Santiago said, adding he needs the help of everybody in the bureau.
“I’ve been here before and will end my career here,” he added.
Santiago said he would prioritize the faster processing of NBI clearances and go after scammers and cybercrime syndicates. He added these will help the public trust the agency.
“We will improve our clearance system. I will work with Congress for the digitization of our clearance system,” he said, adding he has been ordered by President Marcos Jr. to go after cybercrime syndicates.
“‘Yan ang marching order sa atin ni Presidente, to look into cybercrimes. We will go hard against those involved in cybercrimes,” he said, adding the NBI, under his watch, will be “proactive” in fighting internet-related crimes.
He said this was his promise to Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez and the other DOJ officials when he visited the department last Friday after taking his oath of office in Malacanang. The NBI is an attached agency under the DOJ.
Santiago also warned his subordinates that he would not tolerate corruption or mediocrity. He also promised to look after the welfare of the men and women of the NBI.
“There will be a reward system. To those who are good at doing their jobs, we will empty our intelligence fund for the reward system,” he said.
