NBI forms own anti-terror unit

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) went "global" in the fight against terrorism by turning one of its crack units into the Anti-Terrorism Division (ATD).

NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Service Edmund Arugay said 20 selected agents have been appointed to the ATD with Supervising Agent Carlo Vasquez to head the crack anti-terror unit.

"We just want a dedicated division for anti-terrorism. There should be a dedicated division manned by dedicated people," Arugay said.

"We previously had operations but these were scattered among the different operating units (of the NBI)," he said.

The creation of the ATD comes on the heels of the visit by US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director John Pistole who promised to help the NBI in its fight against the global menace.

An NBI official earlier confirmed the ATD had been in the planning stages since last year, pointing out the bureau would pursue the plan, patterned after the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s anti-terrorism task force.

The official confirmed the NBI had renamed the General Intelligence and Investigation Division (GIID) and transformed its functions to the ATD.

The US and Australia had long urged the NBI to create its own ATD. In return, the two countries reportedly promised to provide training programs and equipment.

The NBI has been tasked to form the ATD which will represent the bureau in the government’s Anti-Terrorism Council.

The ATD would serve as the main operating arm tasked to conduct anti-terrorism activities among other primary tasks in identifying terrorist organizations.