Mamerto Cortez, the new National Bureau of Investigation chief in Negros, Saturday said he will restore the image and the moral of NBI agents in the province.

The new NBI chief of the province said he will continue what Philip Pecache, his predecessor, started for the good of Negros and will restore the glory days of the NBI Bacolod.

Investigation of cases will be based on the rules of evidence in an impartial and neutral manner, Cortez also stressed.

Cortez took over from Pacache Saturday morning at rites held at the NBI office in Bacolod witnessed by NBI regional director Mario Sison, local officials and leaders from the private sector.

In his meeting with NBI agents today, Cortez said he will stress that asking of contributions from private sources for cases handled will be prohibited. "We will live within our means as provided by our main office," he said.

Cortez said his priority will also be to improve the clearance section of the NBI in Bacolod. People seeking clearances are also working, he said, so ways to shorten their wait will be studied.

Cortez, who was assigned to the NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division, said computer crimes in the Philippines are far less than those committed in first world countries.

What are rampant in the Philippines are cybersex crimes where women strip in front of cameras and those involving child pornography, he said.

The NBI has made numerous arrests of those behind cybersex crimes in Manila, Cortez said.

Cortez said aside from going after computer crimes, he has been part of NBI units that have gone after counterfeit computer software and other products.

Cortez, who was born in Bulacan, speaks Ilonggo because his parents are from Capiz.

Pecache, who will be assigned to the NBI complaints and records division in Manila, said that, during his term, he was able to get a donation of property from the Negros Occidental provincial government for the construction of an NBI building.

As soon as the 2007 appropriations act is approved, he said, P10 million can be allotted for the NBI Bacolod building.

Pecache said he is thankful for his re-assignment back to Manila because his wife is about to deliver.*CPG

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