NBI in 2024: Major wins vs cybercrimes, fugitives

The National Bureau of Investigation marked 2024 as a year of significant breakthroughs, with its campaigns against cybercrime and high-profile fugitives under the leadership of NBI Director Jaime Santiago.

- By MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

Santiago, a former police officer and trial court judge and a renowned sharpshooter of the Manila Police District, succeeded Medardo de Lemos on June 17.

An appointee of President Marcos, Santiago pledged to prioritize the fight against cybercrime, "use all intelligence funds" as a reward system for outstanding employees and enhance public trust in the bureau.

"This is a dream come true," Santiago said during his oath-taking ceremony.

The NBI's Cybercrime Division, led by Jeremy Lotoc, made waves early on.

On June 21, the bureau arrested three members of the hacking group LulzSec, which is responsible for breaching government websites, banks and social media accounts.

Subsequent operations netted three more suspects for hacking the Philippine Navy database.

The efforts underscored the bureau's commitment to safeguarding the country's digital infrastructure.

Human trafficking operations linked to cybercrime also took center stage, with NBI agents dismantling a trafficking ring tied to Chinese and Russian crime groups in July. These led to the rescue of 11 victims, including minors and foreign nationals.

Pursuit against fugitives

The NBI played a crucial role in apprehending high-profile fugitives.