Fomer Duterte Cabinet member is new NBI Director

National

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has a new director.

Palace Press Officer and Communication Undersecretary Claire Castro on Thursday, Feb. 19, announced that lawyer Melvin Matibag is the new NBI chief, replacing Angelito Magno.

Magno headed the agency in an acting capacity after Jaime Santiago resigned in 2025.

"Magkakaroon po ng bagong NBI Director sa katauhan po ni Atty. Melvin Matibag (There will be a new NBI Director in the person of Atty. Melvin Matibag)," Castro said in a report by Manila Bulletin.

Matibag was named acting Cabinet Secretary in March 2022 during the final months of former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration.

The reason behind Matibag’s appointment was not disclosed by Castro, saying the decision was within the President’s prerogative.

"Hindi pa po naibigay sa akin ang rason. So kapag ibinigay na po sa atin...Unang una, prerogative po ng Pangulo (I have not yet been given the reason. So once it is given to us… First of all, it is the President’s prerogative)," Castro said.

Matibag also had stints with the National Transmission Corporation, Manila International Airport Authority, and Laguna Lake Development Authority, among others.

He is also a former Secretary-General of the PDP-Laban but resigned from his post and as a member of party in 2023.(MyTVCebu)