Santiago to remain as NBI director while waiting for replacement

Following his resignation last week, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago on Monday clarified he will remain in office while waiting for his replacement, according to John Consulta’s report on Super Radyo dzBB.

In his message after attending the bureau’s flag ceremony, Santiago said this was out of respect for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who appointed him.

“Tignan natin kung itong buong linggo na ito. Kung mag-acting na si president, kung may mapili na siya, sige,” Santiago said in Consulta’s post on Facebook. 

(Let’s see if it happens within this whole week. If the president acts, if he chooses someone, then okay.)

“Pero hanggang walang words, walang napipili, walang ano, I will stay to perform my duty. ‘Yun ay bilang respeto,” he added.

(But as long as there are no words, no one chosen, nothing yet, I will stay to perform my duty. That is out of respect.)

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

In his irrevocable resignation letter to Marcos, Santiago said there were "detractors and those who have sinister interest" in his position have "incessantly" made moves to besmirch his reputation.

According to the report, Santiago also explained the reason for his resignation. 

“Hindi ako umalis dahil sa ayaw ko na sa administration. I salute the president, I salute SOJ, I salute… wala po sa atin, sa akin, wala silang inutos na ilegal na gawin natin. Free hand ako,” the bureau director said.

(I did not leave because I no longer wanted to be in the administration. I salute the president, I salute the SOJ, I salute… none of them, for me, ever ordered us to do anything illegal. I had a free hand.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA