Amid Alleged Attempts to Besmirch his Reputation, NBI Director Jaime Santiago Resigns from Post
NBI DIRECTOR – National Bureau of Investigation chief Jaime Santiago submitted his “irrevocable resignation” to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Countless Filipinos including government officials when the chief of the country’s investigation bureau unexpectedly tendered his resignation to Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The resignation letter was dated August 15 but was shared to the members of the media only today.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago cited alleged attempts to besmirch his reputation as the reason behind his decision to leave his post. Based on a report on GMA News, Santiago claimed that the moves of his supposed detractors started after he tendered his courtesy resignation in response to the call of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Over a week after the 2025 Midterm Elections, Pres. Bongbong Marcos called for the courtesy resignation of all the secretaries in his Cabinet. He stressed that it is “not business as usual” citing the results of the poll has shown the disappointment of the Filipinos with the kind of services provided by the government.
According to Marcos Jr. then, it is time to align the government with the expectations of the Filipino people. Several secretaries of Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet immediately tendered their courtesy resignation. It was initially reported that the President wants a revamp of his administration.
However, later on, Pres. Bongbong Marcos clarified that the call for courtesy resignations among his Cabinet secretaries is in line with the ongoing performance check among the government officials to ensure the services provided to the Filipinos.
Based on the report, in his resignation letter, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said his resignation is effective immediately as soon as the President appoints someone who will replace him in his post. According to him, his alleged “detractors and those who have sinister interest” to take his place have supposedly “incessantly” moved to damage his reputation which he has worked on for years.
“I cannot allow this seemingly orchestrated move to blacken my reputation which I molded through the years,” the NBI Director said.
It was in June 2024 when Pres. Bongbong Marcos appointed NBI Director Jaime Santiago into the position. He is a former Manila Regional Trial Court judge and has been the the deputy chief of the elite Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Manila Police Department (MPD).
Based on the report, Malacañang confirmed that Santiago has indeed tendered his resignation from being the head of the NBI. However, according to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, Pres. Bongbong Marcos has yet to speak on the matter.