NBI reshuffle: Interpol chief transferred to Bicol

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has announced a reshuffle affecting six of officials, including Interpol Division chief Ricardo Diaz, who has served as the agency’s spokesman in controversial cases.

NBI acting Director Nestor Mantaring said yesterday he issued special orders for the transfer of Diaz to head the Bicol Regional Office (Biro), replacing Assistant Regional Director Lauro Reyes, who has been reassigned to Central Luzon Regional Office (Celro).

His long-time executive officer, head agent Claro de Castro Jr., has been named acting Interpol chief.

Diaz’s relief from Interpol came as a surprise to some officials. He was out of town attending a speaking engagement and could not be reached for comment.

However, Deputy Director for Intelligence Service Edmund Arugay said the transfer was above board since Diaz is now a regional director and overqualified for a division office.

"He is over ranked and we should give others a chance. He has been at Interpol for five years," Arugay said.

Diaz has handled numerous controversial cases while chief of Interpol, including the murder of actress Nida Blanca; the espionage case involving former Police Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intelligence analyst Leandro Aragoncillo; and the search for former Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano who was rumored to have fled abroad. He even helped kidnap for ransom victim Jackie Rowena Tiu fight the illegal repatriation of suspect Zhang Du.

De Castro clarified that Diaz’s reassignment was not a form of punishment.

"He was not transferred because he committed a mistake or an offense. He was transferred to Bicol because there was an opening for regional director in that region."

Diaz, a lawyer is also a native of Camarines Sur, a Bicol province.

He served as Interpol chief for five years while De Castro has been with the Interpol since he entered the Bureau some 12 years ago.

Under NBI regulations, a division such as the Interpol should only be led by a head agent and Diaz is overqualified for this position.

Another overqualified official is Regional Director Reynaldo Esmeralda of the Special Task Force (STF).

"There is also a possibility that he might be transferred," Mantaring said.

The NBI chief also ordered the reassignment of Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Gener Matulac from the General Investigation and Intelligence Division (GIID) to the position of ARD of their Southern Tagalog Regional Office (Sotro) in Batangas. Head agent Nelson Bartolome, of the Logistics Division, has been sent to the Lucena District Office in Quezon province.

The NBI also renamed their GIID into the Anti-Terrorism Division that would be headed by Supervising Agent Carlo Vasquez.

He said the change in positions passed the scrutiny of their Promotion and Placement Board (PPB), composed of the six deputy directors, chief of personnel and the Internal Affairs Service.

"This is routine. They were moved because they were overstaying in their post, overqualified or underperforming. Others were simply needed in another unit for their expertise and services they have rendered," Mantaring explained.

He also denied he was playing "favorites" in assigning posts.

Mantaring pointed out that when people applied for work at the NBI, they agreed to be assigned anywhere. Even their spouses are also asked conform to this agreement.