RTC judge, ex-SWAT sharpshooter Jaime Santiago is new NBI chief

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (center) administers the oath of office to newly-appointed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Jaime Santiago (third from right) at the Office of the Executive Secretary on Friday, June 14, 2024. Photo from the Presidential Communications Office

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jaime Santiago as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed Santiago’s appointment with reporters on Friday.

Santiago will replace Medardo de Lemos as NBI chief. De Lemos has been on an extended appointment as NBI head since he was supposed to retire in 2023.

Santiago was a former police officer before serving as presiding judge of Manila RTC.

He was Deputy Chief of the elite Special Weapons and Tactics team of the Manila Police Department. He was a known sniper who later served as the inspiration for the movie “SPO4 Santiago Sharpshooter.”

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Santiago entered the law profession after obtaining his Bachelor of Laws degree from Manuel L. Quezon University in 1993.

He became a prosecutor and then appointed as presiding judge of Manila RTC.

The new NBI chief also previously served as president of the Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines and a member of the Supreme Court’s Committee on Security.