NBI director files 30-day leave of absence

MANILA, Philippines - National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula filed for a 30-day leave of absence before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday.

The reasons for his filing the leave of absence were not known, but NBI Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos said it could be because Gatdula wanted to give DOJ a free hand in their investigation of allegations that two of the bureau’s high-ranking officers were allegedly involved in extortion.

Gatdula, however, refused to reveal the reasons for his taking a leave of absence.

If Gatdula goes on leave, De Lemos would be the acting NBI chief.

De Lemos stressed he is not aware of the real reasons why Gatdula wanted a leave of absence, but this could also be because the NBI director wanted to take a break.

“I really do not know the other reasons, but maybe he just wanted to take a rest because he is already tired from all the work he has been doing here,” he said.

De Lemos also could not give an exact date when Gatdula would take the leave, since it would also depend on the DOJ approving the request.

He said the DOJ has not approved yet Gatdula’s request for a leave of absence for 30 days.

“We haven’t receive any order from the Department of Justice,” he said.

De Lemos also said Gatdula filed the request only last Thursday.

Last Dec. 5, pending an investigation by a DOJ panel of two of its ranking officers, Gatdula relieved the chief of the NBI Security Management Division (SMD) and its executive officer following allegations of extortion of a Japanese woman who is currently detained in the bureau.

NBI spokesperson Cecilio Zamora said earlier Gatdula had ordered the relief of SMD chief Mario Garcia and his executive officer Jose Odellon Cabillan after the bureau received reports of alleged extortion of P100 million from a Japanese woman who sought refuge in the country due to death threats from the Japanese mafia.

Garcia and Cabillan denied the allegations but they were placed on “floating status.”