National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday rejected insinuations that the bureau’s operations in Davao City and its monitoring of suspected illegal drug activities in Taguig City were politically motivated, saying law enforcement operations are based on evidence and not on the political affiliation or bailiwick of those involved.
Matibag made the statement during a press conference amid questions and comments linking recent NBI activities to areas identified with political figures, including Davao, the political stronghold of the Duterte family, and Taguig, where the Cayetano family has a strong political base.
Matibag said the NBI does not choose areas based on political considerations.
“Wala tayong pinipiling lugar. It so happen when things happen and NBI will operate, a lot of people now because of our great divide right now will put color and politics doon sa issue,” he said.
Matibag said the operation against Davao Mighty Steel Corp. was not an isolated action targeting Davao.
He said it was the fifth steel plant the NBI had visited as part of its investigation into possible violations involving steel products.
“The truth about the matter, this is the fifth steel plant na pinuntahan ng NBI, dalawa sa Pampanga, isa sa Bulacan, isa sa PHIVIDEC (in Misamis Oriental), and now Davao,” Matibag said.
“So huwag naman sana bigyan ng kulay,” he added.
Matibag urged the public, particularly social media users, not to attach political motives to the NBI’s enforcement activities or spread what he described as incorrect information about the operations.
“This is not about political preference, this is not about kung saang region, this is not about negosyo, but it’s about NBI and PAOCC doing their job as law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Matibag said the operations in Davao were intended to protect workers and consumers from possible exposure to radioactive materials and substandard steel products.
He said the government was not seeking to deprive workers of their livelihood but stressed that employment should not come at the expense of public health and safety.
“Hindi natin gusto na mawala ng trabaho. But you will see very clear in the video the markings of the metals that will be used, the steel bars, DMS. That is the marking of Davao Mighty Steel,” Matibag said.
He said the markings were among the evidence being examined by authorities.
Matibag also appealed to the public not to compromise safety in the name of livelihood.
“Hindi natin dapat gawin na yung mga Pilipino natin sa ngalan ng livelihood at hanapbuhay ay makompromise yung safety and health nila, and the same way yung mga consumers na bibili ng mga produkto na ginawa nito,” he said.
He reiterated that the NBI and the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) were simply performing their law enforcement duties.
Meanwhile, Matibag recently confirmed that the agency is monitoring Taguig City following intelligence reports of alleged drug dens, shabu laboratories, and a potential open-air “shabu tiangge”.#