TARLAC CITY, Tarlac — The National Bureau of Investigation has relieved all members of its Tarlac district office of field duties following mounting allegations of extortion.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed the development during an interview on the radio program “Dos Por Dos” on Oct. 5, 2026, stating that the entire roster of the local provincial office now faces a formal internal inquiry.
“Sa ngayon po lahat ng miyembro ng Tarlac District Office po, they are now in floating status po and under investigation by internal affairs,” Matibag said, placing the personnel on floating status while the investigation proceeds.
Matibag did not disclose the personnel involved in the alleged extortion and how much money was involved.
The official withheld the exact number of affected agents and employees, the identity of the alleged victim, and the specific monetary amount involved.
Matibag appealed directly to the alleged victim to come forward and cooperate with investigators, noting that processing such complaints proves difficult without participation.
“Ang pakiusap ko po sana doon sa biktima ay makipagtulungan po sa amin kasi mahirap po kaming mag-process ng mga imbestigasyon at mga reklamong ganyan kung wala pong pakikipagtulungan,” he stated.
The bureau chief assured that the bureau stands ready to provide full protection to the victim while acknowledging that fear and trauma often accompany such ordeals.
“Nauunawaan ko po na mayroong trauma at takot po pero nakahanda po ang aming ahensya na tumulong po para sa kanilang proteksyon,” he added.
The NBI Tarlac personnel remain with the bureau but hold no active assignment while the investigation is ongoing.
Tarlakenyo.com reached out to NBI Tarlac, but they declined to confirm or deny the report.
The Tarlac district office operates along Macabulos Drive in Barangay San Roque, Tarlac City, functioning both as an investigative unit and a clearance processing center.
Earlier this year, the provincial office participated in high-profile operations, including an April joint mission with the Pampanga District Office that resulted in three human trafficking arrests and the rescue of 21 victims.
This provincial inquiry compounds a broader series of integrity challenges confronting the bureau under Matibag’s leadership, which began in February.
In August, authorities arrested a main office job order employee and an NBI volunteer in Pasay City during an entrapment operation. Investigators accused the suspects of invoking the Director’s name to shake down Mindanao businessmen, collecting approximately P1.7 million before agents intervened.
