Bulaong assumes post as No. 2 man of NBI; Mantaring welcomes ‘outsider’

Retired police Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong became the second highest ranking official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday following his appointment by President Arroyo.

Wearing a barong, the 56-year-old Bulaong made a courtesy call to NBI Director Nestor Mantaring at noon as he formally assumed the post as the bureau’s assistant director.

He carried with him the Oct. 4 appointment papers signed by the President along with other credentials.

The position had been vacant since Mantaring was formally appointed as NBI director last July to replace Director Reynaldo Wycoco, who died on Dec. 19.

Wycoco suffered a stroke and was in a coma for 26 days.

Bulaong is the third police official to assume the top post in the NBI. His predecessors were Wycoco and now incumbent Senator Alfredo Lim, who once served the agency as its chief.

His arrival came at a time when the agency’s rank and file repeatedly appealed to Mrs. Arroyo to appoint an "insider."

Bulaong, a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) where he graduated as valedictorian of his class, is considered an "outsider."

NBI Deputy Director for Regional Operations Service Reynaldo Esmeralda admitted that while their internal manual of operations indicates that the assistant director should be a lawyer, this requirement does not concur with Republic Act 157, or the law that created the NBI. "There is no legal provision that says that the appointee must be a lawyer," making him qualified for the position."

Both Mantaring and Esmeralda said they welcome the appointment of the retired police general.

"We welcome him. In my absence, he will perform as acting director. He is a seasoned investigator and he has an effective track record," Mantaring said.

"We are professionals. We welcome Gen. Bulaong as new assistant director with open arms and with open hearts," Esmeralda said.

Bulaong, for his part, thanked Mantaring for accepting him and President Arroyo for trusting him with the responsibility.

" I am just here to work. I have been with the police for 30 years and I will get along well with all the people. I will be working with them, hopefully sabay-sabay at parehas ang lahat," the former MPD chief said.

He said he would not give special treatment to policemen apprehended by NBI agents. – With Paolo Romero