NBI CHIEF SANTIAGO FILES IRREVOCABLE RESIGNATION, CITES ‘ORCHESTRATED SMEAR CAMPAIGN’

NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago has resigned from his post, Malacañang on Saturday confirmed.

Santiago cited an “orchestrated move to blacken his reputation”  as the reason for his filing of resignation.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a test message to mediamen, confirmed that Santiago filed his resignation but did not disclose other details.

She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to accept Santiago’s resignatio

“He (Santiago) submitted his resignation,” Castro said when asked about Santiago’s resignation. “There is no comment from the President as of now,” she added.

In his letter addressed to the President dated Aug. 15, 2025 and coursed through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Santiago said he was tendering his “irrevocable resignation” effective immediately upon the appointment of his replacement.

A copy of his resignation letter  was shared with members of the media on Saturday.

He said detractors and those who have sinister interest in his position are making moves to besmirch his reputation.

Santiago did not name those behind the supposed effort to tarnish his name nor did he offer further details.

Marcos appointed Santiago as NBI chief in June 2024.

In May 2025, Santiago submitted his courtesy resignation as part of Marcos’ directive for agency heads to vacate their respective posts amid efforts to recalibrate his administration. 

A retired judge, Santiago assumed office as NBI chief on June 14, 2024. He served as a prosecutor from 2003 to 2006 before becoming a presiding judge of a regional trial court in Manila.

The NBI, an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ), is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of high-profile criminal cases and has been involved in several anti-corruption operations in recent months.