By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Medardo de Lemos, I heard, was due for retirement last year. Between then and now, it seems he’s impressed his bosses in Malacanang to stay on the job.
But I beg to ask what he has done to deal with the culprit behind that ago-go dancer performance that went from table to table at the socials night that followed the NBI’s national command conference at a reputable hotel in Manila seven months ago.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would have the incident investigated and described it as “the kind of misbehavior we don’t need in the country.” He should have asked his NBI Chief if the man responsible was made to account for the act that brought disgrace to the office and the judicial branch.
Even CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada chimed in that state regulations require public officers to act appropriately and made her wonder how officials of an agency like the NBI that rescues women from human trafficking could be amused by this form of recreation or entertainment.
My spies at the NBI told me the man behind that is an IA or intelligence agent who’s supposed to be co-terminus with De Lemos himself. What kind of associate does De Lemos keep? I heard this guy already has complaints lodged against him before the Civil Service Commission for vote-buying in last October’s barangay elections and corruption, among others.
Yet the NBI director sees no urgency to investigate this guy internally. Director De Lemos, it might interest you to know that some of your subordinates suspect this guy of fattening his wallet through illicit means by usurping the authority of the NBI higher offices. It wouldn’t be a surprise if your office is among them.
I hear this misfit and a poor excuse for an agent of the law has people asking about his family’s wealth in Occidental Mindoro. Is it? They are baffled at how he has come to venture into shipping and even a local hotel in such a short stint with the NBI.
Behind the scenes, whispers suggest this culprit enjoys a cozy relationship with the powers that be at the NBI. Why is that so, Director De Lemos?
Right now, I’m just awaiting some official documents that spell out this person’s name and spill out the litany of his excesses and misbehavior as an agent of the NBI. Before I receive these documents, I hope the NBI director or even the Justice chief has already lifted a finger to flick this man out of the bureau.
It’s time for De Lemos and Remulla to act decisively — to purge the bureau of this embarrassment before further disgrace befalls the institution. Nakakahiya na po!
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