#15 “Development of N.B.I. and its functions”.

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1.    Trace    the    history    of    National    Bureau    of

Investigation (NBI). 2.   Identify   the   functions   of   National   Bureau   of

Investigation (NBI).

 

History of National Bureau of Investigation

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) saw its inception on November 13, 1936 upon approval of Commonwealth Act No. 181 by the legislature. It was the brainchild of the late President Manuel L. Quezon and Jose Yulo, then Secretary of Justice.

Tasked with organizing a Division of Investigation or DI patterned after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation were Thomas Dugan, a veteran American police captain from the New York Police De partment and Flaviano C. Guerrero, the only Filipino member of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During the Japanese occupation, the DI was affiliated with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Philippine Constabulary known as the Bureau of Investigation (BI). Subsequently, during the post-liberation period, all available DI agents were recruited by the US Army CIC as investigators.


Since then, the Bureau assumed an increasingly significant role. Thus, on June 19, 1947, by virtue of Republic Act No. 157, it was reorganized into the Bureau of Investigation. Later, it was amended by Executive Order No. 94 issued on October 4, 1947 renaming it to what it is presently known, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). It was further amended by RA 10867 an act reorganizing and modernizing the NBI. Its primary function is to investigate crimes and other offenses against the laws of the Philippines, both at its own initiative or when the public interest may require.

Powers and Functions(RA  10867, sec 4).

 The NBI shall have the following powers and functions:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

(a) Undertake investigation and detection of crimes and offenses enumerated under Section 5 hereof;cralawlawlibrary

(b) Issue subpoena for the appearance of any person for investigation or production of documents, through its officers from the ranks of Regional Director to Director;cralawlawlibrary

(c) Act as a national clearing house of criminal records and other related information for the benefit of the government;cralawlawlibrary

(d) Render technical assistance to government agencies and instrumentalities, when so requested;cralawlawlibrary

(e) Extend assistance in cases involving extradition and mutual legal assistance, when requested by the Department of Justice;cralawlawlibrary

(f)  Establish an NBI Academy which shall be responsible for the recruitment, training, and development of all NBI agents and personnel, among others;cralawlawlibrary

(g) Establish and maintain a Forensic and Scientific Research Center which shall serve as the primary center for forensic and scientific research in furtherance of scientific knowledge in criminal investigation, detection, evidence collection and preservation, and provide the necessary training therefor;cralawlawlibrary

(h) Establish and maintain a Cyber Investigation and Assessment Center which shall serve as the nerve center for computer information technologies, data on cybercrime cases, computer intrusion, threats, and other related crimes or activities;cralawlawlibrary

(i) Establish and maintain an integrated, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art network of equipment and facilities to be used by the NBI in its criminal investigation, detection, and evidence gathering, and to provide the corresponding training in this regard;cralawlawlibrary

(j) Request the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines, or any other agency of the government, including government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, in its anti-crime drive. Such assistance may include the use of the agency's personnel and facilities upon prior approval by the head of the agency concerned;cralawlawlibrary

(k) Conduct intelligence operations in furtherance of the foregoing powers and functions;cralawlawlibrary

(1) Enter into any contract or transaction for the acquisition, ownership, possession, administration, lease, disposition or acceptance of real or personal property in its name, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Justice;cralawlawlibrary

(m) Establish a modern NBI Clearance and Identification Center containing all derogatory and criminal records and civilian identification records, including their identifying marks and characteristics and fingerprint database, as well as dental records pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1575, entitled "Requiring Practitioners of Dentistry to Keep Records of Their Patients";cralawlawlibrary

(n) Maintain, for purposes of investigative and forensic requirements of the NBI, relevant database such as ballistic records of firearms including, but not limited to, data ownership, possession, and other related identifying circumstances; and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) databank; and

(o) Perform such other functions as the President or the Secretary of Justice may assign.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the relationship of RA 157 to Executive # 94 s. 1947 and 10867?

Answer: RA 157 is the law that created the Bureau of Investigation (B.I) which was under the Department of Justice (DOJ). It was renamed as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by the  virtue of E.O 94 series of 1947. Later, it was amended by RA 10867 an act reorganizing and modernizing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

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