New NBI director to focus efforts on cybercrime

Newly appointed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago said he will focus on addressing cybercrime in the country during his term.

 In a report by Marisol Abdurahman in 24 Oras on Tuesday, Santiago said he will look into online scam incidents in accordance with marching orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We will work hard on cybercrime. Ito pupukpukan ko lahat ng agents, itong cybercrime. Baka iba sa inyo naloko na rin,” the retired judge and cop said.

(We will work hard on cybercrime. I will push the agents to work harder in addressing cybercrime. Maybe some of you have been scammed too.)

The former trial court judge also said he expects the NBI to be proactive and apprehend scammers before they victimize the public.

“Ubusin natin ang intelligence fund, magbigay tayo ng reward system. Ikalat natin. Bakit hindi? Hindi ko ibubulsa yan. Atin yan,” Santiago said.

(We will use all the intelligence funds. We will have a reward system. We will share it. Why not? I will not pocket it. It is for everyone.)

Santiago said the NBI will also assist the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in addressing illegal gambling in the country.

A kind leader

Santiago said he is a kind leader but he must be informed about the whereabouts of his personnel.

“'Pag lumakad ka hindi ko alam, buntot mo hila mo. Walang mag-babangketa,” Santiago.

(If you go somewhere without my knowledge, you’re on your own. No one is allowed to slack off.)

He added that his coworkers should not treat him as a newcomer since his first work was with the NBI from 1977 to 1979 before he became a police officer.

Santiago said his career started with the NBI and that he will finish his career with the bureau.

The new NBI head made headlines in the ‘90s as a police sniper with what was then known as the Western Police District (WPD).

A request

Meanwhile, his predecessor Medardo de Lemus requested Santiago to continue the efforts of the NBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to extradite former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. from Timor Leste to face justice in the Philippines.

DOJ said the extradition trial of Teves concluded last week and the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals will have five days to render its decision.

“Tinutugis rin natin si (former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald) Bantag. Sana ipagpatuloy natin ang ating nga efforts,” Lemus said.

(We are also looking for Bantag. I hope NBI continues our previous efforts.)

In April, the Muntinlupa court ordered the arrest of Bantag in connection with the death of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News