NBI mulls hiring deaf-mutes to curb corruption

MANILA, Philippines -  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is planning to hire deaf-mute people to handle documents in their computer system to minimize graft and corruption.

NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula said deaf-mute employees “will fit” requirements at the agency’s information technology services unit, but they cannot hire deaf-mutes until a government rationalization law, which prevents the hiring of additional personnel, is amended.

He cited “the need to expand our horizons by looking closely at our brothers and sisters not as individuals who are in need of compassion or special treatment, but as individuals who are capable.”

“We hope that before the NBI celebrates its 75th founding anniversary on Nov. 13, the (amendments) will be approved,” he said in an interview at the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Hotel in Manila.

He attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the NBI and the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies for the on-the-job training of deaf students at the agency.

Gatdula said deaf-mute workers will be assigned to handle records at the NBI’s automated fingerprint information system. The equipment for AFIS, donated by the United States, had already arrived at the NBI headquarters.

Gatdula said the bureau could train some agents on the use of sign language when the deaf-mute recruits arrive. He said sign language would be included as a new course in the NBI in order to remove any communication barriers with the deaf-mute who perform sensitive jobs at the bureau.

 “We look at them as equals who can likewise contribute in big way to nation building. By working with you (deaf-mute), we know that we can learn from each other. With our concerted efforts, we can find a new meaning to what we call public service,” Gatdula said.

The NBI said since they still have no budget to hire additional people, they get deaf-mute students at CSB. By May 16, the US embassy will fund the NBI’s fingerprint scanning project, for which the agency eyes getting 40 deaf-mute students as volunteers.