Taiwan softens as Aquino names David BI chief

MANILA, Philippines—Within a few hours of Malacañang’s announcement designating retired Armed Forces chief Ricardo David as the new head of the Bureau of Immigration, Taiwan removed one of the new visa application requirements it had imposed on Filipino workers bound for the island in the wake of last month’s deportation row.

As a further indication that the iciness in relations with Taipei were thawing, former senator Manuel Roxas, President Aquino’s private emissary, and Amadeo Perez Jr., chair of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan, have been invited to visit the island next week.

The Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (Pilmat) credited Roxas, who was earlier sent to Taipei by Mr. Aquino; Antonio Basilio, the Taipei-based Meco managing director; and former President Fidel Ramos for helping resolve the crisis.

According to Pilmat president Jackson Gan, only hours after Malacañang announced the replacement of immigration officer in charge Ronaldo Ledesma, the Taiwanese foreign ministry ordered its de facto embassy in Manila, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, to no longer require Taiwan-bound Filipinos to produce Social Security System membership cards when applying for work visas.

Pilmat, however, decried Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda’s saying that Ledesma’s departure had nothing to do with the deportation row.

“Such statements are not helping repair the relations with Taiwan. Mr. Lacierda should be more circumspect when he talks about sensitive issues, especially in issuing statements that have foreign policy implications. We should stop infuriating the Taiwanese with insensitive statements. It is time to close the book over this mess,” Gan said.

Pilmat has been calling for Ledesma’s dismissal, blaming him for Taiwan’s strong displeasure over the deportation to China last month of 14 Taiwanese nationals arrested for suspected online fraud.

“He [Ledesma] was principally responsible for the deportation which triggered the diplomatic row and endangered the jobs of 100,000 OFWs. His replacement will be looked upon by Taiwanese officials as a punitive action, a form of apology acceptable to Taiwan,” Gan said.

The immigration bureau carried out the deportations despite the Court of Appeals issuing a writ of habeas corpus for the Taiwanese and Taipei’s appeals to send the 14 suspects to face the law in the island.

Delayed OFW deployment

As a result, the Taiwanese government recalled its de facto ambassador in Manila, demanded an apology from the Philippines and issued new visa application regulations that delayed the deployment of OFWs to the island.

Gan said he expected all the other new regulations to be scrapped as soon as the government investigates the deportation row and makes the officials who erred accountable.

In a phone interview, Ledesma said he did not know if the deportation row had anything to do with his dismissal. He said no reason was given when Lacierda called him to inform him of his replacement on Tuesday night.

Ledesma said he had no complaints and would return to his former position of bureau as a division chief.