Latest news with #JaimeSantiago
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
NBI chief orders probe into alleged irregular STF operation in Malolos
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago has ordered an investigation into an alleged irregular operation conducted by the NBI-Special Task Force (STF) in Malolos City, Bulacan in July. The NBI-Internal Affairs Division (IAD) is also looking into allegations that personal items of the subjects were allegedly seized by NBI personnel. According to Santiago, special orders were issued to transfer the STF personnel to different regional offices or divisions pending the investigation. 'Rest assured that the Bureau takes this matter with utmost seriousness and we are committed to take all the appropriate actions,' Santiago said in a letter. GMA News Online has sought comment from the chief of the NBI-STF and will publish his response once available. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Santiago said the investigation stemmed from the complaint of the Chinese Embassy and the lawyer of the Chinese nationals who were arrested during the operation. 'Para hindi nila ma-tamper, whatever evidence, buwagin muna 'yan, imbestigahan agad ng IAD at let us see,' he said. (So that they won't be able to tamper with whatever evidence, dismantle that first, immediately investigate through the IAD, and let us see.) However, he clarified that this is only temporary. 'Habang nag-iisip ako ng kung sino ang karapatdapat na maligay diyan at susunod sa aking guidance, in the meantime, wala muna akong STF,' he said. (While I am thinking about who should be appointed who will follow my guidance, in the meantime, there will be no STF.) Santiago said the operation was for a resort allegedly involved in love scams and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. However, he said that the address provided by the agents to the court in requesting for a search warrant was incorrect. 'Nagkamali lang daw sila sa address ganoon, error lang daw, meron naman daw sila sketch. Aba, hindi. Kung ganyan, ako judge ako bago ko magbigay ng search warrant ay tinitiyak ko muna na tama ang lugar na inyong ise-search,' he said. (They said they just made a mistake with the address, just an error, they said they had a sketch. Well, no. If that's the case, if I were the judge, before I issue a search warrant, I would make sure first that the place you're going to search is correct.) 'Parang ganoon eh, minslead nila 'yung court. 'Yung court naman nagbigay ng search warrant na mali naman pala 'yung address,' he said. (It seems to be like that, they misled the court. Then the court issued a search warrant, but it turns out the address was wrong.) He said that no complaints have been filed as the agents are still under investigation. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- GMA Network
NBI seizes over P30 million worth of unregistered vapes in Laguna
The unregistered vape products were found in a storage facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Photo: NBI Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized over P30 million worth of unregistered vape products in Laguna, bureau director Jaime Santiago said Tuesday. 'Hindi registered. Substandard. Walang permit. Pati 'yung bahay na ginawang bodega, walang permit sa Sta. Rosa,' Santiago said in a press briefing. (These were not registered. Substandard. No permits. Even the warehouse did not have a permit in Sta. Rosa.) According to the NBI, undercover agents met with three sellers, who led them to a storage facility located in a residential area to complete the transaction. Once there, they showed the products, consisting of 40,500 pieces of vape worth P31.9 million and 3,880 pieces of vape pods worth P640,200. The three individuals were then arrested for violating the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. They have been presented for inquest proceedings, according to the NBI. Meanwhile, Santiago advised the public to refrain from buying products from random outlets. 'Isang paraan, 'wag kayo bumili sa mga basta-basta lang na outlet. Pumunta kayo sa mall kasi sa mall, hindi pumapayag ang malalaking mall na magkaroon ng stall doon na ang binebenta ay illegal,' he said. (One way is to avoid buying from just any random outlet. Go to the mall because major malls do not allow stalls that sell illegal goods.) For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry said that illicit vape products can be identified through a lack of license marks as well as tax stamps or required fiscal marks from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The DTI said illicit vape products may also have flavors that unduly appeal to minors and improper 50% graphic health warning. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- GMA Network
NBI, DTI arrest five over P8.1-M illegal vape distribution in Manila
NBI Director Jaime Santiago (right) and NBI Regional Director Ferdinand Lavin (left) present the five suspects arrested. NBI Authorities arrested five individuals for illegal vape distribution in Manila and seized unregistered items amounting to P8 million, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Monday. According to the NBI, a team of the NBI and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) arrested the five individuals in an entrapment operation in Santa Cruz, Manila on July 3. They confiscated 25,653 vape products with a market value of P8,164,570. The NBI said one of the suspects was reportedly using media platforms to market unregistered vape products, which is a violation of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act. Meanwhile, the five were presented for inquest proceedings before the Manila City Prosecutor's Office for violation of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Regulations Act, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 as well as violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The bureau said the arrested individuals are currently under the custody of the NBI-Security Management Division. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- GMA Network
NBI ready to lend forensic expertise in missing sabungero case
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to lend its forensic expertise in the case of the cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros who went missing from 2021 to 2022, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said Monday. 'Yes, I am volunteering. Kung kailangan nila ng forensic expertise namin, I am very willing na i-extend ang aming forensic expertise,' Santiago said in an ambush interview. (Yes, I am volunteering. If they need our forensic expertise, I am very willing to extend our forensic expertise.) Julie "Dondon" Patidongan or alias Totoy, one of the accused in the case, previously said that the bodies of the 34 missing sabungeros were buried in Taal Lake. Due to this, the Philippine government has asked Japan for technical assistance. Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology also said that the agency is willing to lend its expertise and equipment in the search for the sabungeros. Last week, Patidongan also named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case. He also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearance. The two have denied the allegations against them, with Ang saying that Patidongan threatened to link him to the disappearance if he refused to pay P300 million while Barretto said she received a similar threat. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-06-2025
- GMA Network
Suspects say sorry for exploiting minors in Tarlac
The suspects have expressed their regrets for allegedly exploiting 10 minors who were rescued in Concepcion, Tarlac. 'Sobrang laki po ng pagsisis namin. Pinagsisihan po namin to. Hindi na ito mauulit,' one of the suspects told GMA Integrated News in a "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman. (We deeply regret this. We regret this. It will not happen again.) The minors are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Authorities arrested two sisters for allegedly engaging in online child sex exploitation of their children. The youngest victim was three months old. According to NBI director Jaime Santiago, the suspects used the dark web to contact their clients from other countries. Lawyer Jay-R Perez, agent on the case, said the suspects sometimes took the videos, and there were times they taught sexual acts to the minors. Santiago said the case stemmed from the arrest of a Swedish national and alleged child-sexual offender in April. Based on the NBI's information, the suspects earn P200 to P4,000 per video, depending on the acts being done. The suspect also earns more if it is a live show. The NBI said the suspects have been involved in an online child sex exploitation case since last year. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
