The Malacañang has declared on Wednesday, August 20, that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago’s resignation is “for acceptance.”
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced during a press briefing, upon being asked about the President’s reaction to the director’s resignation.
She assured this would not affect current investigations, especially high-profile cases such as that of the missing “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts, as there are still many credible and competent people who will continue to work on these.
“Marami pa rin naman pong mga tao na may kredibilidad at maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaan, sila pa rin po ay patuloy na nagtatrabaho para dito,” Castro told reporters.
Castro declined to give more details on potential candidates to assume Santiago’s role.
On Friday, Santiago tendered his irrevocable resignation, claiming he had been subject to a smear campaign since submitting his earlier courtesy resignation, in accordance with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive.
“Detractors and those who have sinister interest in my position incessantly make moves to blemish my reputation. Those covert moves started when I tendered my courtesy resignation in respon(se) to your call. To my mind, lies, if repeated (over time), will give a semblance of truth,” he wrote to Marcos.
“I cannot allow this seemingly orchestrated move to blacken my reputation which I moulded through the years,” he added.
