NBI chief on resigning: Foes with ‘sinister interest’ eye my post
National Bureau of Investigation chief Jaime Santiago has cautioned Malacañang about people with “sinister interest” going after his post, following his “irrevocable” resignation after only a year in office.
Malacañang confirmed on Saturday that it has received Santiago’s resignation letter but that President Marcos has yet to accept it.
“There is no comment yet from the President as of now,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a text message.
Retained
In his resignation letter sent on Friday via Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Santiago said that he had had enough of the purported smear campaign lodged against him by his “detractors.”
“Detractors and those who have sinister interest in my position incessantly ma[d]e moves to blemish my reputation … To my mind, lies, if repeated over time, will give a semblance of truth,” he said.
“I cannot allow this seemingly orchestrated move to blacken my reputation which I molded through the years,” Santiago continued.
He said that it began after Mr. Marcos called for the courtesy resignation of his Cabinet members and agency heads in the wake of the May midterm elections to be able to assess the performance of those at the helm of government offices.
Santiago was among those who heeded the call of the President and he was also among those who were retained in office.
Achievements
He did not detail the “orchestrated moves” or indicate who was behind it.
Santiago assumed office as NBI chief on June 14, 2024.
The Inquirer reached out to Santiago to further shed light on the issue and identify the people behind attempts to besmirch his name, but he has yet to respond at press time.
In the letter, however, he touted his achievements to the President, including the removal of “scalawags” within his agency, the disbandment of the NBI special task force, and the arrests of Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan Jr. of San Simon, Pampanga, and former Councilor John Bron of Tiwi, Albay, in separate entrapment operations of the NBI.
On Aug. 5, NBI operatives arrested Punsalan for alleged extortion and graft over allegations that he demanded P100 million from steel bar manufacturing firm Real Steel Corp. despite having no environmental or tax-related violations.
Three days later, NBI personnel arrested Bron for allegations of graft, robbery and extortion. He allegedly demanded a kickback of P320,000 for the release of an ore transport permit. —WITH REPORTS FROM JASON SIGALES AND PNA
