4 BI execs face raps at Ombuds

Four immigration officials including regional director Geronimo Rosas were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for preventing two Chinese technicians from entering the country through the Mactan Cebu International Airport after they allegedly failed to pay the money demanded by immigration officials.

George Tan, a businessman from Quezon City engaged in prawn farming, accused Rosas, immigration officers Gemma Maximo-Torres, Reynaldo Abrea and Ferdie Balbuena of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and lodged both criminal and administrative complaints against them before the anti-graft body.

Tan said he decided to hire the expertise of Chinese technicians Deng Minwei and Cai Zhouzhi from Hong Kong to assist him in operating his prawn farms in different parts of the country.

Minwei and Zhouzhi, arrived at the Mactan Airport last November 13 but were allegedly arbitrarily ordered excluded into the Philippines for being considered as "persons likely to become public charge" in an order issued by Torres, which was also noted by deputy supervisor Abrea, cited Section 29, paragraph a, sub-paragraph 5 of the Republic Act 1940 otherwise known as the Philippine Immigration Act.

Tan said that it was absurd and presumptuous for the immigration officials to consider the two as "likely to become public charge." Tan added that the exclusion order is highly questionable because it came only after the two failed to give the money allegedly demanded by Rosas.

Gabriel Andujar and Reginald Cabigas, Tan's friends who were supposed to meet the two technicians at the airport because they do not speak English, said that when the two arrived immigration agents immediately escorted them to the office of Rosas.

Andujar and Cabigas said that when they tried to verify they were told by the agents that they are instructed to bring the two Chinese nationals to the office of Rosas. At the office of Rosas, they were allegedly asked if the two could produce P100,000 each for them to be allowed entry.

But, because the two had no money, Rosas ordered Balbuena to have them board the earliest flight back to where they came from.

"Director Geronimo Rosas should not use his office in robbing the people of their money and of robbing the nation of its opportunity to improve its economy," Tan said in his complaint before the Ombudsman.

This is not the first time that Rosas and other immigration officials have been accused of anomalies, earlier a liaison officer of an Australian also filed criminal and administrative charges against him.

Teresita Rosco earlier accused Rosas, his nephew Edmund Rosas and Fred Suico of falsification, malversation and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly using recycled receipts.

Aside from this, Rosas was also accused of allowing Indians without proper documentation to enter the country for a fee. In fact, he was already ordered investigated by Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales. - Fred P. Languido