NBI Chief Jaime Santiago Steps Down, Cites Smear Campaign
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.) has resigned from his post, saying he will not allow an “orchestrated move” to destroy the reputation he has built over the years.
In a letter dated August 15, 2025, addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and sent through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Santiago submitted his irrevocable resignation, to take effect once a replacement is named.
Santiago, who took over the Bureau a little more than a year ago, said his mission was to clean up the agency by removing erring personnel, investigating irregularities, and even abolishing a special task force to show he “meant business.” He pointed to recent high-profile arrests as proof of his alignment with the President’s anti-corruption drive.
But Santiago claimed that since submitting an earlier courtesy resignation in response to the President’s call, individuals with “sinister interest” in his position had been working to discredit him. “If repeated over time, lies will give a semblance of truth,” he wrote.
Despite stepping down, Santiago thanked the President for the opportunity to serve and said he would continue to support the administration.
