Republic Act No. 2678

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

For purposes of promoting maximum efficiency in the discharge of its duties and securing full implementation of its functions, provided under section one (a)—(h), Republic Act Numbered One hundred fifty-seven, as amended, particularly pertaining to the investigation of graft and corruption cases and all other forms of crimes and offenses, the National Bureau of Investigation shall be expanded and reorganized by increasing the composition of its personnel and creating additional divisions and regional offices. Provided, However, That all divisions shall be adequately represented in each regional office: And Provided, further, That each division shall be headed by an assistant director and every regional office placed under the charge of a regional director whose rank and pay shall be equal to that of an assistant director. The present district offices shall, hereafter, be known as re-regional offices.

Section 2

Appointments to positions in the Investigation Division shall be limited to members of the bar and/or certified public accountants upon passing the competitive mental and physical examination and after sufficient instruction and training to be given by the National Bureau of Investigation: Provided, However, That the present members of the Investigation Division shall be retained: And Provided, further, That only bona fide members of the Philippine Bar shall be exclusively appointed to the positions of regional director, as contemplated in this Act. Promotion in the National Bureau of Investigation shall be based only on merit.

Section 3

The National Bureau of Investigation shall, subject to the approval of the authorities concerned, negotiate for the purchase of a lot and the construction of a permanent building in Quezon City or in Manila, the total cost of which shall not exceed one million pesos.

Section 4

In addition to such sums as may have been provided in the current General Appropriations Act, there is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of five million pesos to carry out the provisions of this Act, particularly for salaries and wages, traveling and other expenses of personnel, for purchases of necessary supplies, materials and equipment, for acquisition of a lot and construction of a building and for other purposes. Henceforth, the appropriations provided for in this Act should be carried in the annual General Appropriations Act, less the amount to be used in the purchase of a lot and construction of a permanent building, which amount shall involve only one appropriation, as herein provided.

Section 5

Any Act or provisions of Acts inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed.

Section 6

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 18, 1960.