Protests to greet Wycoco at NBI today

A wave of protest will greet police deputy director general Reynaldo Wycoco’s assumption as head of the National Bureau of Investigation today.

This was confirmed yesterday to reporters by outgoing NBI acting director Carlos Caabay. "The President was obviously ill-advised on this. Though we are not satisfied with this development, we cannot question the President’s personal choice of the new NBI director. We as professionals at the higher level, respect her decision," said Caabay.

Caabay said the protests will be organized by members of the 500-strong NBI Association of Agents and Investigators and by the NBI Employees Association which has 2,000 members nationwide.

According to Caabay, senior NBI agents are preparing a formal petition to the President for her to reconsider.

"I cannot prevent these groups from going through with their protest actions as these are democratic manifestations of their sentiments. The President’s order may still be recalled and reconsidered if the protests push through," Caabay said.

A random interview conducted by The STAR showed that majority of the bureau’s agents have expressed disappointment with the appointment of Wycoco as the next NBI director.

"There is now an atmosphere of sadness in the bureau. His appointment has broken what we hoped was the tradition of selecting NBI directors from insider candidates," said one senior agent.

Some agents have even threatened to stage a walkout if the President will not reconsider her decision to assign Wycoco, a non-lawyer as the next NBI chief.

But Caabay clarified that the President can appoint a non-lawyer to the post. "A non-lawyer can occupy the post as the appointment of the NBI director is the President’s prerogative. However, it is our belief in the bureau that the next NBI director should be a lawyer who has served the NBI for at least 10 years," Caabay said.

Caabay admitted even he was surprised by the "express" appointment of Wycoco as the next NBI director.

He told reporters that he even greeted and shook Wycoco’s hand when he met him at the Justice Department last Tuesday afternoon. Caabay went to the DOJ for a courtesy call on newly-appointed Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.

"I told him (Wycoco) that many are interested in my post (as NBI chief). I did not know that he was there as my replacement. The Justice Secretary did not even inform me," Caabay said. He also denied reports that he walked out of that meeting with Wycoco.

Caabay said that Secretary Perez has yet to give instructions regarding changes in the NBI following Wycoco’s expected assumption of office today.

– Mike Frialde

Caabay earlier requested then Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero to allow him to stay at his post as acting NBI chief until this coming May 4 when he retires at the age of 65.

Earlier, the NBI also expressed opposition to reports that Chief Superintendent Lucas Managuelod, head of the Southern Tagalog police, and a lawyer, was the next possible NBI chief.

Among the NBI senior officials who were possible candidates for the NBI director’s post were NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Lolito Utitxo, Apollo Sayo, deputy director for comptroller ship; Sancho Chan, deputy director for technical services; and Samuel Ong, chief of the NBI’s National Capital Region Office.

Wycoco, 54, who served as deputy director general for administration of the Philippine National Police prior to his appointment as NBI director, graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1968. He then served in various posts in the military and police, including being a long-time intelligence officer and spokesman of the PNP. – Mike Frialde