DOJ terminates contracts of BI job order employees accused of extortion

BAGUIO, Philippines — The Department of Justice has terminated the services of eight job order contractors from the Bureau of Immigration who were accused of extorting P9.2 million from Korean nationals.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete, also the DOJ’s spokesperson, said that DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered the Immigration to terminate their contracts.

“Upon review of the terms of engagement of the job order contractors and the evidence adduced against them, the Justice secretary found that factual and legal bases exist for the immediate termination of their contracts,” Perete said in a message to reporters late Wednesday night.

The Bureau of Immigration is under the DOJ.

Eighteen employees of the Immigration bureau were accused of extorting 15 Korean nationals who were arrested on March 6 in Angeles City, Pampanga for overstaying.

READ: BI chief seeks suspension of 18 ‘extort’ agents 

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 coughed up different amounts of money—up to P1 million— to be released. The amount extorted from them reportedly reached P9.2 million.

The agents were also said to have used the name of President Rodrigo Duterte as they told the foreigners that they could not run to the Malacañang for help.

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

Guevarra has earlier placed the other ten Immigration officers who were accused of extortion under preventive suspension for 90 days.

READ: DOJ suspends Immigration officers accused of extortion 

“The ten BI officers and employees are now subject to proceedings to determine their administrative liability for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service,” Perete added.