DOJ investigating scheme to delay deportation of foreign detainees
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration is again under the magnifying glass, this time for a supposed scheme to prevent foreigners from being deported to their homeland.
This has apparently kept a detained Japanese national believed to be behind a spate of robberies in Japan on Philippine soil.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, in a streamed press conference Tuesday, said that the Japanese Embassy has asked the department to deport four Japanese fugitives detained at the Bureau of Immigration.
While the Philippine government promises to hasten the deportation proceedings of the Japanese fugitives — one of whom is believed to be "Luffy", the leader of a robbery group operating in Japan — Remulla explained that they cannot deport foreigners with pending cases or investigations in the country.
Three of the four detainees mentioned by the Japanese Embassy have pending cases — some are at prosecutor level while some are already in courts in different parts of the country.
"Most of the cases — if not all — involve Violence against Women and Children, but we are of the impression that these cases were invented or not real cases, [these are] contrived cases filed against them just to keep them in the Philippines," he continued.
"There are lawyers who specialize in these cases and many of them will lose their license if they continue doing this. We will file cases — even against the lawyers if they will insist on filing cases which are contrived — but that is the way it works."
Remulla said they learned about this scheme when they deported two Chinese nationals last week. The fugitives also had cases, but these were later dismissed after authorities looked into them.
"It’s a part of the corruption ring that operates within the Bureau of Immigration. All these legal services offered by law offices do not stop at tactics which are not supposed to be used in cases like this," Remulla said, adding they are ready to file disbarment cases against lawyers who use tactics to delay deportation proceedings.
Remulla clarified that he is not speaking on whether specific cases are made up or not but that, based on experience and logic, there have been schemes like this.
“We know that this is a modus operandi — a ruse [by] lawyers to stave off deportation ... we will file case against lawyers who [make up] cases to prevent ends of justice from being met,” he said.
Criminal ring run from detention?
The DOJ chief also said authorities confiscated cellphones from foreign nationals detained at the BI facility. One Japanese detainee had six phones, he said.
"This is the subject of investigation within BI because these cannot be tolerated, this reeks of corruption," Remulla said, adding it is "very possible" that criminal activities were run from the detention centers through the contraband phones.
“Luffy” is believed to be directing robberies in Japan from his detention cell in the Philippines.
He said BI personnel who allowed mobile phones into the detenction center will be dealt with severely for a "very serious breach of discipline" in the bureau.
Still, Remulla stressed that the government intends to deport the fugitives to Japan as soon as possible and even before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. flies there in early February.
"We expect all of these cases to be solved in the next few weeks and we will see how many we can deport before the state visit, he said.
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