‘Fil-shams’ deportation pressed

The local cagers, led by Sta. Lucia’s Marlou Aquino, personally appealed to Acting Justice Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez to expedite the resolution of the case for the sake of the Filipino players displaced by the continuous stay of the supposed "Fil-shams" in the country.

"They jeopardize our chances and many local talents lose their jobs because of their presence," Aquino said.

Aquino, through counsel Hilda Calve, told the secretary that two Senate committees recommended the summary deportation of eight Fil-foreign players as early as last year but the DOJ has yet to complete its own investigation.

After a probe on the alleged fake citizenship of some Fil-foreign players, the Senate committees on games, amusements and sports chaired by Sen. Robert Barbers and constitutional amendments headed by Sen. Edgardo Angara recommended the summary deportation of Talk ‘N Text Asi Taulava, Rudy Hatfield of Coca-Cola, Alaska’s John Ordonio, Andy Seigle of Purefoods, Red Bull’s Davon Harp, Mick Pennisi and Alex Vincent Crisano of Barangay Ginebra and Dorian Alan Peña of San Miguel.

For her part, Gutierrez assured Aquino and FedEx players — Hubert John Ferriols, Ranidel de Ocampo, Edgar Billiones, Jean Marc Pingris, Danilo Capobres, Gherome Ejercito, Renren Ritualo, Omanzie Rodriguez, Mike Bravo and others — that the DOJ legal staff will try to speed up the investigation into the matter.

"We understand your concern and we promise to do whatever we can in order to resolve this immediately. There are many documents to review before the department approves their summary deportation by the Bureau of Immigration because they were able to prove before that they should be recognized as Filipino citizens," Gutierrez said.

Earlier, Gutierrez admitted that justice officials will have to conduct further investigation and determine how a confirmation of Filipino citizenship can be recalled.

She said they will go over the documents submitted by the players, which became the basis for the granting of their Filipino citizenship.

Gutierrez added they will study records involving similar cases to determine the procedure on canceling the confirmation of citizenship.

"I have not yet encountered similar cases filed before the DOJ. We will look at the previous cases to determine the procedure," Gutierrez said.

Earlier, Immigration executive secretary Roy Almoro said the BI has submitted to the DOJ pieces of evidence against the "Fil-shams" for evaluation.

The justice department needs to revoke first the confirmation of the citizenship given to the players before the deportation proceedings could start.