18 BI agents face preventive suspension for alleged extortion

MANILA, Philippines — Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has recommended the preventive suspension of  18 Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents for alleged extortion committed during a law enforcement operation.

Morente on Saturday said he had requested the Department of Justice (DOJ), the agency’s mother unit,  to issue the suspension order pending an investigation into the extortion complaint filed against them by 15 Koreans before the Office of the President and the DOJ.

“Extortion is a violation of our oath of service. We cannot allow such instances to go unpunished,” Morente said in a statement.

According to Morente, the alleged extortion on the 15 Koreans happened in Angeles, Pampanga last March.

Morente said the 18 BI agents now facing both administrative and criminal charges.

“We have our Board of Discipline to recommend to the DOJ sanctions against these employees, if proven guilty,” he said.

The BI has requested the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate probe for the filing of the criminal charges against the erring agents, Morente said.

Morente stressed that the BI is “serious in sweeping its ranks” and vows to rid of corrupt and erring personnel.” /muf