PBBM appoints Medardo de Lemos as new NBI director

MANILA – Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles on Monday announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed long-time Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). 

“Director De Lemos rose from the ranks and his appointment as NBI Director is a strong indication of President Marcos’ commitment in strengthening the system of ‘meritocracy’ in the promotion, placement and hiring of government personnel,” Cruz-Angeles said.

A lawyer and career officer who had been with the NBI for more than 30 years, De Lemos was earlier designated NBI officer-in-charge (OIC) by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

He replaced Eric Distor, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte last March.

The NBI, an attached agency of the DOJ, is mandated to investigate or aid in the investigation of major crimes in the country.

De Lemos has been with the NBI for 37 years and is the bureau’s most senior officer.

In 1983, he graduated from the College of Law of the University of the Philippines (UP) and from the NBI Academy in Tagaytay in 1985.

In 2003, De Lemos obtained a Career Executive Service Officer Rank (CESO).

The crafting of the bureau’s Rules of Engagement which defined the policy on the use of deadly force in its enforcement operations, is one of De Lemos’ accomplishments as an NBI official.

He is also a regular lecturer at the Philippine Judicial Academy on the use of deadly force in the security training for Judges.

The busting of the notorious Alvin Flores robbery group in 2009 is also De Lemos’ biggest accomplishment in the bureau when he was still regional director of the NBI’s Central Visayas Regional Office.

De Lemos was also once appointed as the agency’s OIC in 2013 under then-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. This was after former NBI chief Nonnatus Rojas resigned in September 2013.

In less than four months, Virgilio Mendez replaced De Lemos.