THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is the country's premier investigation and intelligence agency. But just like the armed forces or the police, it needs modernization and reorganization to keep abreast with the times, particularly with the “modernization” of crime as well. This prompted Reps. Erico Aumentado (2 nd District, Bohol), Julieta Cortuna (A Teacher Party-List), Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin) and Cesar Jalosjos (3 rd District, Zamboanga del Norte) to file the bill reorganizing and modernizing NBI and providing funds for the same. It is the policy of the state to promote and maintain a modern, competent and highly trained investigative body, functionally integrated and national in scope, hence the solons are now pushing plans and programs to enhance and modernize the NBI with expanded structure, capability and manpower – all responsive to the demands to the times.

Aumentado said the modernization program shall be geared towards the acquisition of state-of-the-art investigative and intelligence equipment and the establishment of forensic and scientific laboratories. He said the new set up is patterned after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the United States of America (USA). Its functions are now clearly delineated from that of the police and other law enforcement agencies. To attract agents and to avoid brain drain, its staff will be increased and their positions upgraded to adequately meet the increasing demands of an expanded investigative and detective work, he explained. For purposes of salary and benefits, the NBI director shall have the equivalent rank of an undersecretary. Those of other officials and personnel shall be reckoned from the salary level of the director. Their salaries and privileges may be increased further in amounts to be determined by the Department of Budget and Management and the NBI Director, subject to the availability of funds, he added.

Once the bill is approved, the NBI shall have primary jurisdiction to investigate public corruption, organized and syndicated crimes, cyber crimes, offenses involving economic sabotage and commercial crimes, as well as others when the president, secretary of justice or NBI Director directs, when public interest so requires. The NBI will then be authorized to use all its collections from clearance fees to augment its operational expenses. Funding sources for its modernization will come from collections from NBI clearance and certificate fees, service incomes from trainings, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests. drug tests, confirmatory and neuro tests and the like, seizures, other miscellaneous incomes and appropriations by Congress as may be necessary. Compulsory retirement age for NBI personnel is 60 years when he has completed at least 15 years of continuous government service, or upon accumulation of 30 years of satisfactory continuous service, whichever is earlier.