De Lima asked to probe BI chief

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was asked yesterday to investigate Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison for supposed violation of her directive involving administrative cases against BI officials and personnel.

In a two-page letter obtained by The STAR, the BI workers’ union, led by Faizal Hussin, accused Mison of usurping De Lima’s authority.

They said the BI chief violated Department Circular No. 27 when he charged an airport security guard with gross neglect of duty on July 25.

The circular provides that only the justice secretary “will be authorized to issue charges, preventive suspensions and resolutions disposing of administrative disciplinary cases involving employees of the immigration bureau.”

Records show that Mison received the directive on July 21. However, the BI chief issued a formal charge against security guard Edwin Librojo on July 25 for gross neglect of duty for allegedly allowing the entry of an Indian national with a fake visa in May 2011.

Mison ordered Librojo to answer the charge against him within three days.

Members of the union said Mison had violated De Lima’s circular.

The justice secretary has yet to act on the appeal of the BI employees to investigate Mison.