Official dares "victims" to identify extortionists

CEBU, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration and Deportation alien control officer Casimiro Madarang III has challenged “victims” of extortion allegedly by a BID task force to come into the open and pinpoint the extortionists.

This after the BID task force invited 12 Chinese nationals for questioning last week for doing business at a downtown mall allegedly without proper documentation. The task force is in charge of cracking down undocumented aliens.

Madarang also denied reports circulating in text messages that he allegedly asked P1.2 million from the 12 Chinese nationals.

“Dili na tinuod. I am urging all the victims to come to my office and pinpoint who are these people asking money from them and I will investigate,” Madarang said.

Madarang explained that the task force was created by BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan but the task force is reportedly “separate and distinct” from his office.

The task force is also reportedly tasked to raise revenue for the bureau “legally.”

The task force reportedly has its own head, a legal department, and personnel tasked to go after undocumented aliens.

Madarang said overstaying or undocumented aliens only need to pay a certain fee corresponding to the length of time they have overstayed.

To recall, BI established regional offices in various parts of the country as part of its decentralization scheme. The satellite offices are aimed at making its services more accessible to foreigners living in the provinces.

Former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez issued a memorandum order that provides for the establishment of 10 immigration area offices covering the country’s 13 regions.

The new offices were established in San Fernando City, La Union (Region 1 and Cordillera region); Angeles City (Regions 2 and 3); Binondo (Metro Manila-North); Parañaque (Metro Manila-South); Batangas City (Regions 4 and 5); Iloilo City (Region 6); Cebu City (Regions 7 and 8); Zamboanga City (Region 9 and ARMM); Davao City (Regions 11 and 12); and Cagayan de Oro City (Regions 10 and 13).

Under the rules, an IAO is headed by an immigration area director who will be assisted by a staff composed of personnel from the bureau’s alien registration, legal, intelligence, and law enforcement divisions, as well as from its civil security unit and computer section.

The director shall be responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operations of all BI district, sub-port, extension, field and satellite offices in his or her area. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)