Lim to appeal deportation case to Palace

Beleaguered Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary-general Graham Lim said he would appeal his case to Malacañang, which affirmed the deportation order immigration authorities issued against him for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino.

Immigration commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said Tuesday that the Office of the President had dismissed for lack of merit Lim’s appeal of the deportation order filed against him by the BI board of commissioners.

Fernandez said he would issue the warrant for Lim’s arrest after 15 days as the latter can still file a motion for reconsideration with the Malacañang legal department.

Lim said he is filing an appeal through his lawyer before the 15-day period has expired. "That is the natural thing to do at this point, I think I have a case. I am a Filipino. I was born and raised here. I was educated here, I have my entire family here," he said.

In denying Lim’s appeal, Malacañang stressed that Lim clearly violated the country’s immigration law by misrepresenting himself as a Filipino and using a fake Philippine passport.

The decision also noted that Lim continued to acknowledge his Chinese citizenship by twice applying for naturalization with the Manila regional trial court and Office of the Solicitor General.

Lim is at the center of controversy involving the expulsion of the BAP and the creation of a new national sports association for basketball by the Philippine Olympic Committee. The unresolved issue in Philippine basketball prompted the international basketball federation ( FIBA) to suspend the country.

The suspension has put on hold the basketball competition of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games the country is to host Nov. 27-Dec. 5.