“Dito, gusto ko mag-iwan ng legacy (Here at the NBI, I want to leave a legacy).”
This was the commitment made by newly appointed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago during the turnover ceremony held at temporary NBI headquarters at the V-Tech Tower in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 18.
“Ibalik natin ang prestige, ibalik natin ng glory ng NBI ( Let us return the prestige and glory of NBI)," Santiago said.
“‘Pag mangyari ‘yan in my time mamamatay akong maligaya (If that happens during my time, I will die happy),” added Santiago who is replaced friend, Medardo de Lemos, as NBI director.
Santiago said his first work was at the NBI as a records checker from 1977 to 1979, but he did not become a regular employee at the bureau.
“Galing ako dito, matatapos ang career ko dito (I have been here and I will end my career here),” he said as he pointed out that he would not be a politician after his NBI stint.
Santiago, who became a well-known sharpshooting police officer, a prosecutor and judge, said “sa lahat ng endeavor na ito mga kasama ibinigay ko ang best foot forward ko (In all my endeavours, I always put my best foot forward).”
As the head of the bureau, Santiago said he wants to be known as an NBI director who is not corrupt. He vowed to look after the welfare of the members of the NBI.
“There will be reward system. Sa mga mahusay magtrabaho, uubusin natin ang intelligence fund (To those who are good at their jobs, we will empty our intelligence fund for the reward system),” he disclosed.
“Ikakalat natin ‘yan. Hindi ko ibubulsa ‘yan (We will distribute it. I will not ’t want to pocket the money),” he assured.
In exchange, Santiago asked members of the NBI to help him make the bureau better.
“Mga kasama kapag may iniutos ako gusto ko ASAP (Comrades, when I ask something done it as soon as possible),” he instructed.
At the same time, Santiago advised personnel not to approach him for favors in seeking positions.
“‘Wag ninyo gawin, lalo ako magagalit s inyo. Malalagay kayo sa pwesto, mapopromote kayo batay sa inyong ginawa (Don’t do it, I will get angry at you. You will get appointed, you will get promoted based on your performance),” he said.
He also assured that he is a good boss. “Walang napapahamak sa akin, sinasagot ko. But the director must always be informed. ‘Pag lumakad ka, hindi ko alam, buntot mo hila mo (No one will be placed in danger, I got your backs. But the director must be informed. If you do something that I don’t know about then you are on your own,)" he advised.
He said President Marcos has given him marching orders to address cybercrimes and improve the clearance at the NBI.
“Magiging pro-active ang NBI (The NBI will become proactive in running after scammers),” he assured.
“Hahanapin namin ‘yan. Bago pa sila makapangbiktima, kuha na namin (We will hunt them down. Before they could get victims, we already got them),” he added.
As to the clearance system, Santiago said he is eyeing to push its digitization before Congress.