ALLEGATIONS of bribery and corrupt practices in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have been reported over the past years, most notably involving fugitive foreigners who were able to prevent deportation.
Korean businessman Kang Tae-sik, convicted in 2014 for violation of the antibouncing check law, was able to prevent deportation proceedings several times.
His deportation had already been scheduled but according to a report, Kang was released by the BI on Nov. 6, 2015, on orders of recently appointed Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa.
Kang was arrested in his office in Makati City on Oct. 28, 2015, on the strength of a warrant of deportation based on a resolution dated Sept. 16, 2015.
His arrest and immediate deportation were ordered following the denial of the Korean national’s motion for reconsideration based on the deportation charge dated May 12, 2014.
Another South Korean national had escaped twice from the custody of the BI. Cho Seongdae, known as Lee Doyeon, escaped from the BI facility on Sept. 29, 2015, and from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines detention cell in Camp Aguinaldo on Oct. 20, 2015.
Cho was first arrested for human trafficking and robbery-extortion in 2012 but escaped while receiving treatment in a hospital. Immigration records showed that he was being processed for deportation when he escaped while supposedly being guarded by immigration agents.
Cho was arrested again after two weeks and was detained at the BI warden facility in Bicutan, Taguig City. But he again slipped out of detention.
After Cho was recaptured on Oct. 10, 2015, in Parañaque City, Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said in a media briefing that the second escape was done “in connivance with some of our own men.” Mison then said Cho had paid P1 million for his escape and that 10 BI employees were being investigated for it.
Wang Bo
In June last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) also investigated the case of Chinese fugitive Wang Bo, who was allegedly the source of millions of pesos intended to bribe BI officials in return for stopping his deportation.
Later, there were allegations that Wang was used to raise funds for the House leadership and bribe lawmakers into supporting the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Wang’s case unraveled in a House inquiry that found Mison to be at odds with two associate commissioners—Abdullah Mangotara and Gilbert Repizo. Mison then recalled that the two officials had blocked his decision to deport Wang for they believed he should remain since he had committed a crime in the country.
Wang, who is wanted in China for illegal gambling and embezzling $100 million, was deported in August 2015 after then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima denied his appeal to stop his deportation.
Mison, who succeeded Ricardo David as BI chief, was appointed on Dec. 18, 2013. He served as officer in charge for five months after David quit in July 2013. Mison was first appointed associate commissioner of the bureau in 2011.
David quit after President Aquino publicly berated him over several incidents where foreigners and Filipinos involved in criminal cases were allowed to leave the country through the airport.
During the bureau’s 72nd anniversary celebration in 2012, David and his subordinates were scolded by the President for the disappearance of South Korean fugitive Kim Tae-dong and the escape of former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, who were wanted in connection with the January 2011 killing of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega in Puerto Princesa. The brothers were arrested in Phuket, Thailand, in September last year.
David resigned from his post reportedly after Canadian Susan Rigby, a private school teacher with a pending criminal case, managed to fly out of the Philippines despite a “lookout bulletin” issued by the DOJ.
David replaced Marcelino Libanan, who tendered his courtesy resignation in July 2010, days after Mr. Aquino’s inauguration. Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives