NBI-7 director leaving post

CEBU, Philippines - A year since assuming as National Bureau of Investigation-7 director, lawyer Antonio Pagatpat is leaving Cebu after being promoted as national office deputy director for financial service.

The Department of Justice earlier said President Benigno Aquino III was appointing four deputy directors, and Pagatpat was named as one of them.

Pagagpat would replace Deputy Director for Special Investigation Service Ruel Lasala.

Two of the four appointees would fill the vacancies left by deputy directors Virgilio Mendez and Rickson Chiong, who retired last Nov. 2013.

Pagatpat, a native of Tacloban City, took over from then regional director Edward Villarta the post of NBI-7 director on Jan. 29, 2013.

Villarta was among the four newly appointed deputy directors after his assignment in NBI-11 (Southeastern Mindanao) following his stint as NBI-7 director.

He replaced Chiong, deputy director for forensic investigation service, as deputy director for technical services.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, Police Regional Office-7 director, said Pagatpat's transfer to Manila would not affect NBI-7's investigation into the ambush-slay of lawyer Noel Archival and two others.

Constantino said the NBI and the PRO-7 Special Investigation Task Group are in close coordination and that Pagatpat was not the only one working on the cases from the NBI-7.

"Pagatpat provides direction in the conduct of the investigation and he has investigators who are coordinating well with the SITG," Constantino said.

Results of the NBI investigation on the case would be handed over to the next NBI-7 director.

Asked if Pagatpat's transfer has something to do with the case, Constantino said it was just part of the NBI's regular reshuffling of personnel, similar to what the PNP practices. —/RHM (FREEMAN)