{{Short description|Filipino lawyer and Director of the National Bureau of Investigation since 2025}} {{Philippine name|Alvarez|Matibag}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Melvin Matibag | image = NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag 2026 (cropped).jpg | caption = Matibag in 2026 | office = Director of the National Bureau of Investigation | successor = | predecessor = Angelito Magno (OIC) | term_start = April 20, 2026 | office2 = Cabinet Secretary of the Philippines | status2 = ''Acting'' | successor2 = ''Office abolished'' | president2 = Rodrigo Roa Duterte | predecessor2 = Karlo Nograles | term_start2 = March 8, 2022<ref>{{cite news |last1=Galvez |first1=Daphne |title=Duterte names PDP-Laban faction exec as acting Cabinet secretary |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1565757/duterte-names-pdp-laban-faction-exec-as-acting-cabinet-secretary |access-date=March 10, 2022 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309104843/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1565757/duterte-names-pdp-laban-faction-exec-as-acting-cabinet-secretary |archive-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> | term_end2 = June 30, 2022
| office3 = President and CEO of National Transmission Corporation | successor3 = Jainal Abidin Y. Bahjin II | predecessor3 = Generoso M. Senal (OIC) | term_start3 = January 2017 | term_end3 = March 9, 2022
| profession = Lawyer | education = Ateneo de Manila University (LLB) | death_date = | spouse = Ann Matibag | birth_name = Melvin Alvarez Matibag | party = Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (until 2023) }} '''Melvin Alvarez Matibag''' is a Filipino lawyer who currently serves as Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) since April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos |title=Melvin Matibag takes oath as NBI chief |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1269473 |access-date=February 23, 2026 |website=Philippine News Agency}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Bolledo|first=Jairo|title=From Duterte ally to Marcos appointee: Who is Melvin Matibag, the new NBI chief?|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/things-to-know-melvin-matibag-new-nbi-director/|access-date=February 19, 2026|website=Rappler}}</ref> A former cabinet secretary of President Rodrigo Duterte, he was previously instrumental in the ouster of Senator Koko Pimentel as chairman of Duterte's PDP-Laban, of which he served as secretary general from 2021 to 2023.
==Early life and education== Matibag graduated in Ateneo de Manila University College of Law in 1996, and passed Bar Exam in 1997.<ref name=":0" />
==Government career== Being a PDP–Laban stalwart, he served as President and CEO of National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) under the Duterte administration, and later as acting Cabinet Secretary in 2022. As president of TransCo, he led the Public Education Network-Communications Infrastructure for Learning (PEN-CIL) project that would address the challenges of Department of Education (DepEd) in ensuring the continuity of learning amid the pandemic and the expected transition to the New Normal by providing Internet connectivity in all public schools, with improving power line infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite news |title=TRANSCO teams up with DepEd on high-speed internet for public schools |url=https://www.dof.gov.ph/transco-teams-up-with-deped-on-high-speed-internet-for-public-schools/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301201530/https://www.dof.gov.ph/transco-teams-up-with-deped-on-high-speed-internet-for-public-schools/ |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |work=Department of Finance}}</ref>
He also served as PDP–Laban's Secretary General until 2023.<ref name=":0" /> He also filed a disbarment case against Harry Roque due to the latter's accusation against President Bongbong Marcos of having a video in which Marcos is using illegal drugs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Delgado |first=Harlene |date=February 20, 2026 |title=Matibag takes oath as new NBI director |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/20/matibag-takes-oath-as-new-nbi-director-1853 |work=ABS-CBN News}}</ref>
In April 2026, he was appointed as the new Director of National Bureau of Investigation replacing Angelito Magno who was an OIC. As director, he led the arrest of former journalist Jay Sonza due to allegations of spreading fake news on President Marcos' health status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villar |first=Kate |date=2026-05-01 |title=NBI confirms arrest of Jay Sonza over cyber libel case |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2026/05/01/nbi-confirms-arrest-of-jay-sonza-over-cyber-libel-case |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=Daily Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Matibag also stated that Vice President Sara Duterte attempted to visit Ramil Madriaga, the former's alleged "bagman".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendoza |first=John Eric |date=2026-04-29 |title=NBI says Sara Duterte tried to visit Madriaga |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2220559/nbi-says-vp-duterte-tried-to-visit-madriaga |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref>
After the Senate changed its leadership in May 11, 2026,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Torregoza |first1=Hannah L. |date=11 May 2026 |title=Sotto out, Cayetano in: Alan Cayetano is new Senate leader |url=https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/11/sotto-out-cayetano-in-alan-cayetano-is-new-senate-leader |access-date=11 May 2026 |work=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 May 2026 |title=Bato dela Rosa returns to Senate, claims NBI tried to block him |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/726956/bato-dela-rosa-returns-to-senate-claims-nbi-tried-to-block-him |access-date=11 May 2026 |work=Cebu Daily News |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> the NBI led the operation that resulted to failed arrest of Ronald dela Rosa, as International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa.<ref name="unseals">{{cite news |last1=Kabagani |first1=Lade Jean |last2=Oliquino |first2=Edjen |last3=Orcullo |first3=Jerod |last4=Ayeng |first4=Raffy |last5=Apacible |first5=Lisa Marie |last6=Villanueva |first6=Anita |last7=Macapagal |first7=Dannah |last8=Villar |first8=Kate |date=13 May 2026 |title=ICC unseals, confirms warrant vs Dela Rosa |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2026/05/12/icc-unseals-confirms-warrant-vs-dela-rosa |access-date=13 May 2026 |work=Daily Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clores |first1=Keith |date=11 May 2026 |title=Senate under lockdown after NBI–Dela Rosa altercation |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2226687/senate-ongoing-lockdown-amid-nbi-dela-rosa-altercation |access-date=11 May 2026 |work=INQUIRER.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ager |first1=Maila |date=11 May 2026 |title=Sen. Dela Rosa placed under Senate protective custody |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2226692/dela-rosa-now-under-senates-protective-custody |access-date=11 May 2026 |work=INQUIRER.net}}</ref> But the NBI agents who are in the said operations were cited in contempt by the Senate after the surveillance footages were presented at the plenary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clores |first1=Keith |date=11 May 2026 |title=Senate cites NBI agents in contempt over Dela Rosa arrest attempt |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2226734/senate-cites-nbi-agents-in-contempt-over-dela-rosa-arrest-attempt |access-date=11 May 2026 |work=INQUIRER.net}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matibag, Melvin}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Filipino lawyers Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni Category:Bongbong Marcos administration personnel Category:Duterte administration personnel Category:Partido Demokratiko Pilipino politicians