NBI Director Jaime Santiago files 'irrevocable resignation'

National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago has resigned from his post.

A copy of his resignation letter addressed to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and dated August 15, 2025 was shared to members of media on Saturday.

In his letter, Santiago said he was tendering his "irrevocable resignation" effective immediately upon the appointment of his reliever.

Santiago said "detractors and those who have sinister interest" in his position have "incessantly" made moves to besmirch his reputation.

'Detractors' covert moves'

The NBI director said that his alleged detractors’ covert moves started when he tendered his courtesy resignation following Marcos’ call for his alter-egos and other chiefs of executive agencies to step down.

“I cannot allow this seemingly orchestrated move to blacken my reputation which I molded through the years,” Santiago said.

Further, he said he was given the challenge to purge the NBI of scalawags, thus, a year after he was appointed as chief of the agency, he has “caused the removal of those who have committed serious infraction in the performance of their duties and commenced an investigation on their irregularities.”

“This also prompted me to abolish one unit (STF) to show that I really mean business,” Santiago said.

In June last year, Marcos appointed Santiago to take the helm of the NBI.

Palace confirms

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro confirmed that Santiago has submitted his resignation letter to the President. 

"Confirmed. He submitted his resignation," Castro said in a text message to reporters.

Castro, however, added that Marcos has yet to say anything about the NBI director's resignation. 

"Wala pa po comment mula sa Pangulo as of now," Castro said. 

(There's no comment from the President as of now.)

'Sharpshooter'

Santiago,  who made headlines in the '90s as a sharpshooter with the Manila Police District, replaced  Medardo de Lemos.

He also formerly served as a Manila Regional Trial Court judge.

Santiago became part and eventually named the deputy chief of the elite Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Manila Police Department (MPD).

His autobiography was made into a movie titled “SPO4 Santiago Sharpshooter,'' portrayed by Senator Ramon ''Bong'' Revilla Jr.

He received recognition as a police officer including Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year of the MPD, one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP) by the Jaycees, and an Act of Heroism Award bestowed by the National Capital Region Police Office, among others.

In 2005, he was named as the presiding judge of Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 12, while in 2011, he was promoted as the presiding judge of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3, Manila. —Ted Cordero/KG/ VAL, GMA Integrated News