NBI in 2024: Major wins vs cybercrimes, fugitives

Yearender

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation marked 2024 as a year of significant breakthroughs, with its campaigns against cybercrime and high-profile fugitives under the leadership of NBI Director Jaime Santiago.

Santiago, a former police officer and trial court judge and a renowned sharpshooter of the Manila Police District, succeeded Medardo de Lemos on June 17.

An appointee of President Marcos, Santiago pledged to prioritize the fight against cybercrime, “use all intelligence funds” as a reward system for outstanding employees and enhance public trust in the bureau.

“This is a dream come true,” Santiago said during his oath-taking ceremony.

The NBI’s Cybercrime Division, led by Jeremy Lotoc, made waves early on.

On June 21, the bureau arrested three members of the hacking group LulzSec, which is responsible for breaching government websites, banks and social media accounts.

Subsequent operations netted three more suspects for hacking the Philippine Navy database.

The efforts underscored the bureau’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s digital infrastructure.

Human trafficking operations linked to cybercrime also took center stage, with NBI agents dismantling a trafficking ring tied to Chinese and Russian crime groups in July. These led to the rescue of 11 victims, including minors and foreign nationals.

Pursuit against fugitives

The NBI played a crucial role in apprehending high-profile fugitives.

Even before the appointment of Santiago, the NBI had assisted in the manhunt for now-detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who hid for months from authorities.

The NBI served warrants on his properties in Davao, including the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound where the Philippine National Police arrested Quiboloy on Sept. 8.

Quiboloy is detained in the Pasig city jail on sex trafficking charges. He is also wanted in the United States for the same offenses.

The NBI also helped in the continuing hunt for former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, who is accused of masterminding the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa in 2022.

In September, former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, who fled amid allegations of falsifying public documents and ties to illegal offshore gaming, was captured in Indonesia.

Authorities were able to confirm that Guo and a Chinese named Guo Hua Ping were one and the same person after the NBI’s Dactyloscopy Division found that their fingerprints matched.

The bureau also facilitated the surrender of former Palawan governor Joel Reyes, accused of orchestrating the 2011 murder of broadcaster Gerry Ortega. Reyes’ case, long mired in legal battles, saw renewed focus under Santiago’s leadership.

Illegal operations

The NBI carried out multiple raids targeting illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs and unlicensed businesses.

In July, the bureau raided an unregistered clinic in Makati linked to a POGO firm. In December, it arrested 60 people operating an illegal POGO hub in Davao del Norte.

The bureau expanded its investigations into falsified documents after uncovering a scheme in Davao del Sur, where up to 1,500 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, obtained fraudulent Philippine birth certificates. The operation against falsified documents was led by NBI-Davao director Archie Albao.

High-profile cases

The NBI also tackled controversial cases, including the subpoena issued to Vice President Sara Duterte in November over remarks related to assassination threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Subpoenas were also issued to former Malacañang press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who attended the Vice President’s press briefing when the latter uttered her threatening remarks.

The bureau pursued former police colonel Royina Garma, linked to the 2020 murder of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Garma flew to the US, but was intercepted at an airport in California due to a canceled visa.

The former PCSO executive was also held in contempt by the House quad committee, which was investigating the war on drugs during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Under Santiago’s tenure, the NBI not only bolstered its cybercrime defenses but also renewed its focus on restoring public confidence through transparency and effective law enforcement.

The bureau’s successful operations this year underscored its pivotal role in addressing emerging challenges in crime and corruption.

Santiago remained steadfast in his mission to transform the NBI into a modernized and trusted institution.