Managuelod appointment as NBI chief could trigger agents’ exodus

The possible appointment of Chief Superintendent Lucas Managuelod, incumbent police director of Southern Tagalog, as chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) could trigger a mass exodus of agents from the bureau.

A senior NBI agent, who requested anonymity, said the bureau could experience a repeat of what happened during the term of former NBI director Alfredo Lim.

Managuelod is reportedly being recommended to the President as the next NBI chief by no less than Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson.

"It could generate a negative effect. During the time of Lim, many NBI lawyers left the bureau to join the judiciary, went abroad or engaged in private practice. The exodus was probably triggered by the appointment of an outsider," the NBI agent said.

Lim, a former Manila police chief, was appointed by former President Corazon Aquino as NBI chief and served from 1990 to 1992. He was the last "outsider" to serve as NBI chief. He was succeeded by Epimaco Velasco, Antonio Aragon, Mariano Mison, Santiago Toledo and Federico Opinion Jr.

Aragon, Toledo and Opinion all died in office. Opinion, the NBI’s 14th director, died at the age of 62 last Friday afternoon at the National Kidney Institute due to kidney failure and diabetes. Toledo and Aragon, meanwhile, both succumbed to cardiac arrest.

NBI insiders cautioned the President against appointing an outsider as the next NBI director.

"Appointing an outsider could send a message to the public that the NBI lacks qualified candidates for the post," said an NBI agent.

Instead of an outsider, the agent said President may instead appoint somebody from the judiciary or a lawyer in private practice who really understands the law.

For his part, NBI officer-in-charge Carlos Caabay said the President should take into consideration the efforts of career NBI agents in choosing the next NBI director.

"The President should really choose somebody from within our organization. Many of us here have contributed a great deal of our lives to the service. Many of us, including the old-timers, are looking forward to be appointed as NBI chief before retirement," said the senior NBI agent.

Should the President consider an insider to replace Opinion, NBI sources said Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero could recommend anybody from the bureau’s 14 regional directors, 14 assistant regional directors and at least two deputy directors.

Of the 14 regional directors, National Capital Region chief Samuel Ong is the favored choice among NBI agents and employees.

Of the six deputy directors, only Caabay and deputy director for intelligence service Lolito Utitco could be included in the list. However, Caabay, 64, will retire in May next year.

Two other deputy directors — Fermin Nasol, deputy director for regional operations, and Felimon Bautista, deputy director for administration — are not qualified for the NBI’s top post because they are certified public accountants, not lawyers.

The remaining two deputy directors — Apollo Sayo, deputy director for comptrollership, and Sancho Chan, deputy director for technical services — are the least favored because they are also set to retire soon, an NBI insider said.