Mison named Immigration OIC

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has named Associate Commissioner Siegfred Mison as officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

De Lima said Department Order 504 was effective immediately and shall remain in force until revoked, modified or until President Aquino appoints a new immigration commissioner.

“Such designation shall not include the power to act on matters involving policy determination, approval of long-term contracts and transactions, appointment and firing of personnel and other matters that go beyond acts of mere supervision or administration or are, by their nature, essentially within the authority of the Secretary of Justice,” read the order.

Mison temporarily takes the place of Commissioner Ricardo David, who has resigned.

Mison is the son of former Customs commissioner Salvador Mison and nephew of former National Bureau of Investigation director Mariano Mison.

He was a military officer before he became a lawyer. He graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1987. He obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1996, and earned his Masters of Law from the University of Southern California in 2006.

Lawyer Ronaldo Ledesma will sit as OIC of the Office of the Associate Commissioner.

David has reported to President Aquino that the BI surpassed its monthly collection targets during the first six months of his watch.

In a report dated July 11, David said under his watch the BI was able to exceed all monthly collection targets from January to June.

A day after submitting the accomplishment report, David tendered his resignation.

Malacañang announced that Aquino accepted his resignation last Tuesday, July 16.

In January, the BI was tasked to collect P272.8 million and its actual collection was P311.8 million; in February, the target collection was P207.2 million and its actual collection was P238.6 million; in March, the target was P198.8 million and its actual collection was P223.9 million; in April, the target was P223.6 million and its actual collection was P228.1 million; in May, the target collection was P203.4 million and its actual collection was P239.7 million; and in June, the target collection was P211.03 million and its actual collection was P224.1 million.

During his last three months in office, David reportedly came up with policies improving the BI’s collection and service.

The BI, along with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs, introduced visa policy reforms to spur tourist arrivals.

With the Long-Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) it would be more convenient for foreigners to apply for visa extension.