MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has appointed Undersecretary Jesse Andres as acting chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the abrupt and irrevocable resignation of Director Jaime “Jimmy” Santiago, a move seen as crucial to sustaining the government’s intensified campaign against illegal gaming operations.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano stressed the urgency of the designation, warning that the bureau cannot afford a leadership vacuum at a critical time.
“We can’t have a gap or interruption in what we’re doing in the NBI, especially now that we’re fighting against the inshore gaming operators. We need the NBI to be in its top form,” Clavano said.
Santiago’s resignation, described as unexpected, surprised many given his extensive service record.
“He was once a police officer, he was also a judge, and now that he’s a director, Secretary Remulla liked what he was doing, especially the raids that they were doing. However, he has her own personal reasons why he resigned irrevocably,” Clavano explained.
Clavano admitted that internal disputes within the bureau may have played a role.
“You cannot discount the fact na baka meron siyang ginawa na hindi nagustuhan ng mga dati pang nandyan. And it’s a matter of fixing sana, kaso dumating sa punto na hindi na nila maayos sa isa’t isa. On that note, the director found it prudent to resign to protect his name,” he said.
He also cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified claims.
“Mere allegations and mere statements that are uncorroborated and unsubstantiated cannot be acted on because that will only open the floodgates and it is subject to abuse,” Clavano said.
Despite the controversy, the DOJ official lauded Santiago for his integrity and dedication.
“He was a man of principle… a man that executed the instructions of the President and the Secretary. That’s why we will truly miss Director Jimmy Santiago,” Clavano said./PN
