De Lima reverses Agra dismissal of trafficking raps vs 20 BI workers

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has placed 20 personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) assigned at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga under 90-day preventive suspension for their alleged involvement in human trafficking.

Reversing a “midnight” resolution of her predecessor, Alberto Agra, De Lima approved the filing of administrative charges against the 20 immigration officers.

Covered by the five-page order, which De Lima issued last July 16, were Heranio Manalo, Janice de Jesus-Corres, Rey Alfred Hernandez, Robin Pinzon, Romeo Dannug, Jose Melendrez, Adonis Fontanilla, Ramon Lapid, Evelyn Marinduque, Misael Tayag, Gaile Frances, Leo Lugto, Ramoncito Barro de Guzman-Sanglay, Jacqueline Miranda, Arlene Mendoza, James Guevarra, Sheryll Manguerra, Ramonsito Nuqui, Luisito Mercado, and Dante Aquino.

In her memorandum, De Lima approved the recommendation of the investigating panel of prosecutors last April 14 that found probable cause to indict them for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dishonesty, and gross neglect of duty.

The order was addressed to senior state prosecutor Aileen Marie Gutierrez, who chairs the DOJ panel, through Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, acting chairman of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons.

It was the first resolution of Agra that De Lima reversed.

Records show that Racel Ong, also an immigration employee at the DMIA, was the one who filed a criminal complaint for human trafficking against her colleagues before the DOJ last February.

Ong said she could no longer tolerate her co-workers’ alleged illegal activities and that she wanted to do her share to help cleanse the bureau of graft and corruption.

Preliminary investigation showed there was ample evidence to support Ong’s allegations, so the DOJ panel recommended the filing of charges against the respondents.

The BI personnel were accused of facilitating the entry and departure of DMIA passengers with incomplete or falsified documents, colluding with illegal recruiters and human trafficking syndicates, and collecting payments or receiving favors, including sexual favors, in exchange for such misdeeds.

The respondents denied the allegations, claiming they regularly performed their duties and successfully enforced immigration laws at the DMIA.

But Agra reversed the findings of the DOJ panel upon review of the case in a resolution he issued two days before he left office last June 30.

Agra said there was insufficient evidence and that Ong could have filed the complaint against her co-workers because she could possibly be dismissed from the service as a criminal case was also filed against her.

De Lima ruled otherwise, saying the allegations of Ong “are not light fare for any government official accused of wrongdoing.”

She said the allegations “should be taken as opportunity to give premium to acts of disclosure of government corruption by individuals possessing knowledge of the same.”