ATTY. Jose Ermie Monsanto is the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas. (Calvin D. Cordova)
CEBU CITY – The new chief of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) formally assumed his post on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Atty. Jose Ermie Monsanto replaced Atty. Renan Agustus Oliva as part of the NBI’s nationwide reorganization.
“The purpose of the reorganization was probably to recalibrate,” said Oliva.
Oliva is moving to Eastern Visayas after serving as regional director for five years.
Monsanto said being assigned to a big area like Central Visayas is not new to him.
Monsanto led the NBI-Western Mindanao before he was moved to NBI-7.
“In terms of volume of cases, I came from Western Mindanao which consists of seven or eight provinces. So, when it comes to geographical area, I think the area where I was previously assigned is bigger,” said Monsanto.
As a Cebuano, Monsanto welcomed his assignment to the Cebu City-based NBI-7.
Monsanto disclosed that he started his career with the NBI when he was assigned to the Anti- Organized Crime Division in 1991.
Monsanto also had stops in Bacolod City, Samar, Tagum City, Dumaguete City, and Bohol until he was tasked to lead the NBI-Western Mindanao.
Under his watch, Monsanto assured that the NBI-7 will be proactive.
Monsanto said he will spearhead the conduct of investigations into suspected anomalous flood control projects and the recent trash slide in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.
“We will be proactive that’s why we will investigate these things even if no one requests for it,” Monsanto said.