By JEN BAYLON

The newly-installed chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Bacolod City vowed to focus on addressing the backlog of cases, including the discovery of body parts in front of the agency’s district office earlier this year.

NBI-Bacolod chief Manuel Fayre, Jr. said yesterday he is committed to tackling the backlog of cases and improving the operations of the agency.

“We’ll just take one step at a time,” Fayre said.

“I told them, we will put on hold on everything that has operations because, honestly, I don’t know the environment here yet,” he added.

Fayre emphasized that he is currently reviewing NBI-Bacolod’s operational system to address the backlog of cases.

He added that they will continue to fulfill their mandate to receive and investigate complaints, particularly criminal cases.

Fayre also declined to comment on the ongoing investigation involving the discovery of body parts at the NBI-Bacolod office last March 1, citing that he is not authorized to provide information.

“To be honest with you guys, I don’t have the liberty to disclose what they have because they haven’t reported to me yet,” Fayre said.

A sack containing mutilated body parts — a left hand, a left leg and a pair of ears — was recovered in front of the NBI-Bacolod office last March 1.

The body parts included a note with the message, “William de Arca NBI protector ni Hanz Lopez drug lord.”

Fayre, who assumed office on May 6, will meet Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and several local chief executives to discuss their concerns and priorities.

A native of Cagayan Valley, Fayre previously served as head of the NBI-Capiz office before being assigned to the agency’s counter-terrorism division.

Fayre replaced former NBI-Bacolod chief Atty. Renoir Baldovino, who was transferred to NBI-Tarlac District Office as executive officer./JB, WDJ