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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Matibag set to assume NBI top post—Palace

Matibag set to assume NBI top post—Palace

Published Feb 19, 2026 02:38 pm
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Lawyer Melvin Matibag, who used to be part of the Duterte administration, has been named as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Matibag's appointment was announced by Palace Press Officer and Communication Undersecretary Claire Castro in a Palace briefing on Thursday, Feb. 19.
"Magkakaroon po ng bagong NBI Director sa katauhan po ni Atty. Melvin Matibag (There will be a new NBI Director in the person of Atty. Melvin Matibag)," Castro said.
Matibag was appointed as acting Cabinet Secretary in March 2022 during the final months of former president Rodrigo Duterte's term, according to a statement of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in that year.

'There is trust involved'

Castro did not disclose the reason behind Matibag’s appointment, but emphasized that the decision was within the President’s prerogative.
"Hindi pa po naibigay sa akin ang rason. So kapag ibinigay na po sa atin...Unang una, prerogative po ng Pangulo (I have not yet been given the reason. So once it is given to us… First of all, it is the President’s prerogative)," Castro said.
The Palace official also stressed that Marcos saw Matibag as someone who could be trusted and could work for the government.
"Unang-una, masasabi natin bakit niya in-appoint o ia-appoint? Nandun po yung tiwala. Nakitaan po niya si Atty. Melvin Matibag na maaaring pagtiwalaan, maaaring magtrabaho para sa gobyerno. Pero kung ano ang reason, hindi pa po nasasabi sa akin in details (First of all, how can we say why he appointed him? There is trust involved. He saw Atty. Melvin Matibag is someone who can be trusted, someone who can work for the government. But as for the specific reason, it has not yet been explained to me in detail)," Castro said.
The incoming NBI director has yet to take his oath of office as of posting. 
Matibag has also held positions in various institutions, including the National Transmission Corporation, PDP-Laban, Manila International Airport Authority, and Laguna Lake Development Authority, among others.
He resigned from his post as Secretary-General and as a member of the PDP-Laban in 2023.

Related Tags

President Marcos NBI Melvin Matibag NBI director Claire Castro
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