President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially appointed veteran lawyer Melvin Matibag as the new Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The announcement was made Thursday by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a press briefing in Malacañang.
In her statement, Undersecretary Castro emphasized that the President’s decision was rooted in Matibag’s proven track record and his readiness to serve the public interest. “The trust is there. The President saw in Atty. Melvin Matibag a leader who can be trusted and who is capable of working diligently for the government,” Castro said in Filipino.
The Palace highlighted trustworthiness and professional competence as the primary pillars of this appointment, noting that the NBI requires a steady hand to lead its critical mandate in investigative and judicial services.
Atty. Matibag succeeds former Director Jaime Santiago. Following Santiago’s resignation, the bureau was temporarily overseen by Angelito Magno, who served as the Officer-in-Charge.
Matibag enters the role at a pivotal time for the agency as it continues to modernize its digital forensic capabilities and intensify its crackdown on cybercrime and organized syndicates.
While the appointment is official, the Palace indicated that more specific details regarding the transition and Matibag’s immediate priorities for the NBI will be released as they become available.
| Key Appointment Details | |
| Appointee | Atty. Melvin Matibag |
| Position | Director, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) |
| Appointing Authority | President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. |
| Predecessor | Jaime Santiago |
| Interim Lead | Angelito Magno (OIC) |
