BI chief seeks suspension of 18 ‘extort’ agents

MANILA, Philippines — Acting on the order of President Duterte, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has asked Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra to suspend 18 immigration personnel who allegedly extorted P9 million from 15 Korean nationals arrested on March 6 in Angeles City, Pampanga for overstaying.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said they recommended that the 18 agents be placed under preventive suspension pending an investigation on the alleged extortion try during a law enforcement operation. 

This came after GMA-7 reported that the Koreans were threatened with detention if they did not pay up. The same report said the foreigners were released after producing P9 million.

A complaint was later filed against the Koreans before the Office of the President and the DOJ.

“Extortion is a violation of our oath of service. We cannot allow such instances to go unpunished. We have requested the DOJ, which is our mother department, to issue the suspension order.”

He said the agents face both administrative and criminal charges. 

“We have our Board of Discipline to recommend to the DOJ sanctions against these employees, if proven guilty. We have also requested the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to conduct a separate probe against them for filing of criminal charges,” he added.

He reiterated that the bureau is “serious in sweeping its ranks” and is bent on ridding the agency of corrupt and erring personnel. 

“The President’s directive is clear, we will weed out corruption in the BI. No one will be spared,” he declared.