NBI-7 has new director, assistant director

THE National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) has a new regional director and assistant regional director.

Lawyer Antonio Pagatpat, a native of Tacloban City, and former NBI-Cagayan de Oro Acting Director Jose Doloires assumed their posts Tuesday morning as regional director and assistant regional director of the NBI-7 respectively.

They replaced NBI-7 Director Edward Villarta and assistant director Lauro Reyes, who were transferred to NBI Region XI in Davao on the same capacity.

Pagatpat has been serving the NBI for 23 years.

He became regional director of the NBI-8 in Tacloban City for five years and NBI-5 in Bicol for two years prior to his new assignment.

“This would be a big challenge for me considering that Region 7 has a wide coverage,” he told reporters.

“I have a lot of plans for the NBI-7. I’ll have to meet our agents (to discuss what necessary actions to take),” the 49-year-old director said.

Pagatpat, however, said his focus is more on heinous crimes rather than simple cases.

“Walang magaling na investigator kung walang cooperation from the community. Kailangan natin ang komunidad (No one can be considered great investigator without the cooperation of the community. We need the community),” he said.

With the coming of the May 13 elections, Pagatpat said the NBI-7 will help monitor violations of the election laws.

He also vowed to be transparent and accessible to the members of the Cebu media. He also encouraged the media to report any irregularity within the NBI-7 so he can investigate and take the necessary actions.

In a separate interview, Reyes said the reshuffling of district officers and agents may follow.

“This is a new challenge. We’re leaving Cebu in good hands,” Reyes said.

Among the accomplishments of the NBI-7 under their supervision, Reyes said, included the arrest and conviction of Kenyan national Asha Ogutu in September 2011 at the Mactan Cebu International Airport after bringing in three kilos of shabu, which was placed in her luggage; the arrest of Bella Ruby Santos, the main suspect in the kidnap-slay of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique from Calajo-an, Minglanilla, Cebu; and the conviction of a teenager who killed and buried his own mother in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, among others. /REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL