SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Residents of Antique and its neighboring provinces could now avail of the services of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with the opening of its PHP50 million permanent new office building at the San Jose de Buenavista on Wednesday.
“If before the NBI in Antique only served as a satellite office, it will also now become a full district office,” said NBI Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos, in his message during the blessing and inauguration of the three-story building.
The new building will now have a cybercrime laboratory, more personnel for intelligence gathering, and other services available in other district offices such as clearance, investigation, and filing of cases.
The NBI satellite office used to occupy a small space at the Dalipe Tradetown public market. It also lacked computers, equipment to fast-track its services, as well as cybercrime laboratory and other capabilities.
The PHP50 million fund was included in the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) per the NBI Reorganization and Modernization Act. It was made possible through Antique Rep. Loren Legarda when she was still a senator and chair of the Senate committee on finance.
Legarda, in her message, said she values the services of the NBI, especially the intelligence information it provides to the nation.
The inauguration was also graced by NBI officer-in-charge Director Eric Distor, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, Vice Governor Edgar Denosta, and other officials of the province. (PNA)
