MANILA, Philippines--The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has appointed a new spokesperson, a change that?according to sources in the bureau?was prompted by the previous official?s ?generosity in giving information to the media.?

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring recently replaced Ric Diaz with National Capital Region (NCR) head and lawyer Edward Villarta.

Diaz, however, will retain his post as head of the NBI counter-terrorism unit (CTU).

As deputy NBI spokesperson, he will be in charge of dealing with media in Villarta?s absence.

Villarta, on the other hand, will continue to head the NCR office.

Mantaring said the movement was aimed at ?lightening the work load? of the CTU chief although sources claimed that it may have something to do with Diaz?s being too generous when it comes to plying the media with information.

Good performance

Mantaring, however, denied this. He told the Inquirer: ?In fairness to Attorney Diaz, he performed well in his role as the bureau spokesman.?

He pointed out that heading the bureau?s antiterrorism efforts was a heavy responsibility.

?I have not relieved him from his post. He is still spokesman although he can only act as such in the absence of Attorney Villarta,? Mantaring said.

Security matters

He added that apart from his duties as CTU chief, Diaz is in charge of organizing the security escort detail for Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. whenever the latter has to attend hearings in connection with the Maguindanao massacre as well as the rebellion case filed against him.

Diaz was appointed to act as the bureau?s spokesperson after NBI antigraft division head and lawyer Allan Contado relinquished the position to focus on politics.

Contado is running for governor in Eastern Samar.

Rearched for comment, Diaz said he welcomed his replacement as it would give him more time to cases being handled by his unit.

The NBI-CTU is currently handling several big-time cases, including the Maguindanao massacre and the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Diaz, a former radio broadcaster in Bicol, also served as the bureau?s spokesperson during the term of the late NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco.