BI orders probe on crimes vs Koreans in RP
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan yesterday ordered an investigation on allegations of harassment and extortion of Korean nationals in the country by some BI officers.
Libanan said he ordered the probe following complaints from the South Korean Embassy and asked victims of alleged harassment and extortion activities to surface so those involved could be punished.
“This is very serious matter. What is at stake here is not only reputation of the BI but that of our country as well,” he said.
Libanan vowed not to allow any personnel of the bureau to undermine his program to reform the bureau by harassing and extorting money from foreigners.
“I will never condone or tolerate anyone to use our campaign against illegal aliens as a tool for harassment and extortion,” warned Libanan, who added he would not hesitate to file criminal and administrative charges against BI officers involved in the harassment or extortion of Koreans.
Libanan is set to meet with officials of the South Korean Embassy to assure them there is no policy by the BI to single out Koreans in its campaign against illegal aliens.
He was reacting to an earlier announcement by the embassy that it suspended issuance of visas to overseas Filipino workers in retaliation for the alleged extortion of Koreans by some BI officials.
The embassy even reportedly warned it would not lift the suspension until government takes necessary steps to act on the complaints.
But some BI officials, who refused to be named, suspect the embassy’s move could also be in retaliation to Libanan’s earlier order for crackdown on foreigners illegally engaged in the retail trade in the country.
It was earlier learned Koreans account for the bulk of aliens doing retail businesses that are in violation of country’s retail trade law.
One of the areas that were pinpointed for having a large concentration of Korean retailers was
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