Lawmakers and authors of the proposed National Bureau of Investigation Modernization Act on Monday expressed optimism that outgoing President Benigno Aquino III will sign the bill into law before he steps down on June 30 as the measure has reached the Office of the President last Thursday.
Congressmen Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon and Alfred Vargas of Quezon City, said
House Bill 5855, seeks to expand the structure, capability and manpower of the NBI to meet the increasing demands of investigative and detective work.
“The bill also intends to modernize the facilities and intelligence devices, establishment of forensic and scientific laboratories and training of NBI personnel,” Vargas said.
Rodriguez and Escudero said the NBI should modernize as this is the lead government agency tasked to act on cases like human trafficking, extrajudicial killings, Cybercrime Prevention Act violations, Anti-dummy Law violations, threats to security or assaults against the persons of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
“It shall also tackle syndicate related cases, mass fatality caused by natural disasters and commercial, economic and financial crimes,” Rodriguez added, referring to one of the salient features of the measure.
Under the measure, the NBI will revamped as part of the enhancement program within the bureau.
The bill provides that 30 percent of the funds coming from the collections of NBI clearance fees will be used for the bureau’s modernization for three years but shall not to exceed its annual appropriation of P150,000,000.
It also provides that NBI employees who are exposed to danger while on duty may also get hazard pay amounting to P4,000 per month.