Marcos chooses former Duterte appointee as new NBI director

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February 19, 2026 | 2:46pm

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed lawyer Melvin Matibag—a former Cabinet Secretary to former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte—as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Palace confirmed on Thursday, February 19. 

Not only had Matibag been the acting Cabinet secretary under Duterte in 2022 but he was also the secretary general of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PDP) - Laban. PDP-Laban was Duterte’s main political party. 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that Matibag was appointed as the new NBI chief but the reason has not been given. 

“'Yan pa lang ang ibibigay sa atin. Magkakaroon po ng bagong NBI director sa katauhan ni Atty. Melvin Matibag,” Castro said in a press briefing. 

(That is the only thing that I have been given. There will be a new NBI director in the persona of Atty. Maelbin Matibag.) 

Matibag has yet to be administered his oath. 

The Palace has not disclosed why Marcos chose a former Duterte appointee, especially amid increasing political tensions with the Davao clan. 

The Dutertes and their allies have openly criticized Marcos, stating plans to take power in 2028. 

However, there had been apparent rifts within the pro-Duterte forces. Matibag had filed a disbarment case against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for allegedly spreading disinformation. 

Matibag had also called Vice President Sara Duterte a "bratinella" in a media interview. 

Angelito Magno currently heads the NBI in an acting capacity, taking the place of former director Jaime Santiago, who resigned in 2025.