Santiago bids farewell to NBI personnel with final salute

Outgoing National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime B. Santiago on Monday addressed bureau personnel for the last time and gave them a final salute.

“Thank you very much. Hayaan ninyo na sumaludo ako sa inyo sa huling sandali,” he said.

Santiago confirmed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has accepted his irrevocable resignation and said a new NBI director would be appointed “within the day, tomorrow, or within the week.”

“Today I was informed that the President has finally accepted my irrevocable resignation. So within the day or these days to come, an order will be released, you will have a new leader,” he told NBI personnel.

However, the outgoing chief declined to name his successor, saying he did not want to be “makuryente” (a vernacular expression meaning to be misinformed).

“Ayoko magsabi kung sino, baka makuryente ako eh,” he said.

Santiago’s resignation, stated in a letter dated 15 April 2025, was made effective “immediately upon the appointment of my reliever, in order not to disrupt the smooth flow of operations.”

He cited his inability to tolerate what he described as “seemingly orchestrated moves to blacken my reputation,” which he said began after he tendered his courtesy resignation following the President’s call.

During his brief tenure, Santiago focused his efforts on combating internal corruption, saying he had “caused the removal of those who have committed serious infractions” and abolished a unit to show that he “really meant business.”

Santiago also cited high-profile arrests, including those of Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan Jr. and former Tiwi Councilor John Bron, as proof of the NBI’s anti-corruption drive.