Marikina judge new NBI chief?

The jockeying for the leadership of the country’s premiere criminal investigation agency continues to heat up as a Marikina City judge emerged as another likely candidate for the vacant — and some say jinxed — directorship of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NBI sources, who requested anonymity, revealed that the judge was recommended by a top litigation lawyer who is reportedly close to President Estrada.

The name of the judge cropped up after NBI agents threatened to resign if Malacañang appoints Chief Superintendent Lucas Managuelod, incumbent Southern Luzon Command police director, to the post.

Managuelod’s name emerged, allegedly at the instance of Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson, following the death of NBI chief Federico Opinion last Dec. 15 due to kidney failure and diabetes complications. Opinion had been hospitalized since Nov. 7.

Opinion, a career NBI executive, was appointed director only last Sept. 26 but had been acting director since May last year when his predecessor, Santiago Toledo, died of a heart attack.

Toledo’s predecessor, Antonio Aragon, also died in office. Aragon’s predecessor was Epimaco Velasco who resigned to run for governor of Cavite.

The NBI is now headed by deputy director for special investigation service Carlos Caabay, who has been acting NBI chief since Opinion’s hospitalization but is also due for retirement in May.

Managuelod and his backers have reportedly had their eyes on the NBI directorship since last year when Opinion was still healthy and capable of discharging the duties of NBI chief, the source said.

Career NBI personnel, however, are objecting to the appointment of an "outsider" to head the agency, adding that Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero can recommend anybody from the bureau’s 14 regional directors, 14 assistant regional directors and at least two deputy directors.

The last outsider to head the bureau was then retired Western Police District chief and now Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim but his appointment reportedly caused the exodus of the bureau’s top lawyers.

The source said National Capital Region chief Samuel Ong is the favored choice among NBI agents and employees.

The NBI also has six deputy directors but, the source said, deputy director for intelligence service Lolito Utitco appears to be the strongest candidate.

Deputy director for regional operations Fermin Nasol and deputy director Felimon Bautista are not qualified since they are not lawyers as required by the bureau’s charter.

On the other hand, the source said, deputy directors Apollo Sayo and Sancho Chan, like Caabay, are also set to retire soon.