Malacañang on Thursday named Atty. Melvin Matibag, incumbent secretary-general of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban and a DAILY TRIBUNE columnist, as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation.

However, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro did not say when Matibag would assume office as NBI chief or when his oath-taking would be held.

Matibag is a staunch ally and supporter of then-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

“Kung ano ang dahilan, ibibigay ko po sa inyo kapag meron na. Unang una, prerogative naman po ito ng Pangulo,” she told reporters in a Palace briefing.

“And ang masasabi natin bakit niya inappoint, nandun po yung tiwala. Nakitaan po nya si Atty. Matibag na maaaring pagtiwalaan at maaaring magtrabaho para sa gobyerno. But for the main reason, hindi pa po nasasabi sa akin in details,” she said.

The DAILY TRIBUNE tried to get a comment from Matibag, but he has not yet responded.