BY AMITA O. LEGASPI
GMA News
President Benigno Aquino III wants somebody who is “tough and clean” to replace sacked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Magtanggol Gatdula, who was embroiled in a kidnapping case.
“Ang utos kay [Justice] Secretary Leila de Lima ay maghanap ng isang NBI chief na tough and clean,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday.
The NBI is under the supervision of the Department of Justice (DOJ). De Lima has yet to recommend someone for the NBI chief position to the President.
Aquino sacked Gatdula after the official was implicated in the alleged kidnapping and extortion on an undocumented Japanese national arrested by the bureau. A DOJ fact finding panel also recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Gatdula and the other NBI officers involved.
Gain respect
Lacierda said the next NBI chief should be tough “because it’s an organization that would deal with criminal elements and you have to gain the respect of people within and outside the organization.”
“If we’re talking about somebody who’s being clean, that certainly requires a track record of being clean,” he added.
Lacierda said De Lima is expected to come up with a shortlist of candidates at the soonest possible time. “That should be done expeditiously dahil kailangan natin ng isang NBI chief,” he said.
Asked if Aquino is open to choosing the next NBI chief from among the members of the organization, Lacierda said the President did not indicate preference as to whether his appointee should be an insider or outsider.
“The President just gave instructions to Secretary Leila de Lima for qualifications, bahala na po si Secretary Leila de Lima to look into those people who would fit into the requirements of the President, whether inside or outside,” he said.
He said De Lima is fully aware that some NBI officers want their next chief to come from their ranks.
Candidates?
Lacierda refused to comment on personalities who allegedly signified interest to be appointed to the post.
Among the personalities being floated are Customs intelligence chief Danny Lim, former National Police chief Raul Bacalzo, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head Samuel Pagdilao.
“All these are in the realm of speculation,” Lacierda said. “Hintayin na lang natin yung shortlist at ide-decision-an po ni Pangulong Aquino ‘yan.”
“Whoever is in that shortlist is something that is confidential so I will not confirm or deny whether he is being considered,” he added.
Asked if the Palace is ready to apologize to Gatdula if ever he will be found innocent of the accusations, Lacierda said, “Based on the evidence gathered by the fact-finding committee, there is enough evidence to warrant his replacement.” — KBK, GMA News
sibakin ang mga scalawags! nbi has been a sorry
mess ever since.
noynoy is doing it right!
the people now have a sense of safety and
security…! if the nbi is rotten, how can the
people feel safe?
mabuhay ka, noynoy!
gatdula should face the firing squad!