BI chief Viado: Impartial probe to provide clarity on corruption allegations
Viado made the remark after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he is looking into the accusations of corruption at the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
'We respectfully acknowledge and welcome President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s statement regarding the need to look into the issues raised in the so-called BI white paper,' said Viado in a statement.
'We share the President's view that transparency, fairness, and due process are essential in addressing matters of public concern,' he added.
Viado also said the BI trusts that 'an impartial and comprehensive investigation will bring clarity, establish accountability where warranted, and ultimately strengthen the public's trust in our institutions.'
On Monday, the Immigration chief denied the corruption allegations against the BI, including the supposed mishandling of cases related to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.
The issue stemmed from a letter purportedly sent by BI employees to the President last week, in which they allegedly accused Viado of corruption.
The BI employees—who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns of retaliation from Viado—mentioned in the letter the alleged corrupt practices under the present BI leadership, including the supposed mishandling of POGO-related cases and their deportation.
Viado has dismissed the letter as part of a 'smear campaign.'
He also accused a senior BI official of fueling the issue after the BI chief supposedly rejected his request to release a Chinese national linked to a powerful political figure from the previous administration. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- GMA Network
Senators after latest WPS incident: We will not be cowed
China Coast Guard vessel 3104 prepares to use its water cannon vs PCG's BRP Suluan near Bajo de Masinloc in West Philippine Sea, August 11, 2025. PCG At least three senators on Monday maintained that they will continue defending Philippine sovereignty following the recent dangerous maneuvers of a Chinese vessel against a Philippine ship at Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation, condemned the incident, calling on the Chinese Coast Guard to cease and desist from engaging in such acts against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other Philippine maritime vessels. 'These tactics not only endanger our maritime personnel and fisherfolk—they also escalate tensions unnecessarily. Nothing good will come of such actions, except the empty display of logistical superiority,' Estrada said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the PCG said a Chinese vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine vessel during a mission to aid Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on Monday morning. Aside from water cannoning, Chinese vessels also conducted hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions against Philippine vessels that led to a collision between China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) ship 164. Estrada called the incident a 'classic case of reaping what one sows.' 'Nonetheless, we will not be cowed. We will continue to defend our sovereignty, protect our people, and uphold the rule of law,' he added. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said that the incident 'only shows the peril our troops face in asserting our rightful jurisdiction on our waters.' 'We reiterate to the Chinese Coast Guard and fishing militia: Your continued presence and operation at the West Philippine Sea is illegal and unauthorized. The West Philippine Sea is ours. Get out of Philippine waters!' Villanueva said. Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, expressed hope that China would take the incident as a lesson, saying that the collision between their two vessels proves that 'Beijing's own actions are reckless, and endanger their own people.' 'Kahit ano pang panghaharass ng China, hinding-hindi nila maiaalis ang katotohanan na atin ang West Philippine Sea,' the lady senator said. (Despite these harassments by China, they would never take away the fact that the West Philippine Sea is ours.) Hontiveros also called on the government to support the Filipino fishermen to the 'fullest extent possible" and allow them continued access to their traditional fishing areas in the Bajo de Masinloc. 'It is also crucial that we maintain a year-round maritime law enforcement presence to safeguard our fisherfolk,' she added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos vows PH will never back out after latest WPS water cannon incident
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday said Philippine assets would never back out, after a Chinese vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine vessel in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Marcos was referring to the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) vessel BRP Suluan which was on a mission to aid Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc when the incident occurred on Monday morning. ''We have never instructed any of our vessels to back out,'' Marcos said at a press briefing. ''Never, never. But we have to always – we do not back out because natakot tayo, umatras tayo. Alam mo, I don't know about other places, pero dito sa – dito sa gobyernong ito, hindi tayo umaatras sa laban (We do not back out just because we are scared. In this government, we will not back out.),'' he added. ''We don't – we don't… We are brave. Filipinos are brave,'' the President said. Marcos said the country's uniformed personnel have been doing their duty and mission of defending the Philippines, noting that ''we will not stop doing it.'' Earlier, Philippine vessels and fishermen encountered hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions from other vessels in the vicinity, according to PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela. 'In particular, the MRRV 4406 (BRP Suluan) was targeted with a water cannon, but the seamanship skills by PCG crew members allowed the vessel to successfully evade from getting hit,' Tarriela said. He said the PCG has deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Suluan, along with MV Pamamalakaya, to carry out the 'Kadiwa Para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM)' initiative. According to Marcos, there is an increased tension in the region due to his remarks last week, wherein he was accused by China of playing with fire. To recall, China lodged "serious protests" against the Philippines after Marcos stated the country may be drawn into a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan. In defense, Marcos said he was perplexed with China's accusation, adding that he was only stating facts. 'Playing with fire? I was just stating facts," he said. Marcos vowed that his administration would continue to exercise the country's sovereignty in the region. ''We will continue to be present. We will continue to defend our territory. We will continue to exercise our sovereign rights. And despite any opposition from anyone, we will continue to do that as we have done in the past three years,'' Marcos said. GMA News Online asked the Chinese Embassy for comment but it has yet to issue a statement as of posting time. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos to China: Playing with fire? I just stated facts
''Playing with fire? I was just stating facts.'' This was the response of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to China after the latter had lodged "serious protests" against the Philippines over Marcos' statement that the country could be drawn into a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan. During a press conference on Monday, Marcos admitted that he was a little bit perplexed that his remarks were characterized as 'playing with fire.' ''I don't know what they are talking about. Playing with fire? I was just stating facts. There… We do not want to go to war. But I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be indrawn, hihilaan tayo sa ayaw at gusto natin (We will be dragged whether we like it or not). Kicking and screaming,'' Marcos said. ''We will be drawn and dragged into that mess. Whatever you do…Come on, let's be – huwag na tayong mag… Hope. I love this saying, hope is not a plan. I hope it doesn't happen. I hope it doesn't,'' he added. Marcos, in a media interview during his state visit to India, said "there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it" if an all-out war erupts in the Taiwan Strait due to its geographic location. The Philippine leader also acknowledged the presence of around 200,000 Filipino workers on the self-ruling democratic island China claims as part of its territory. Beijing, for its part, pointed out that "near geographic location' and 'a large amount of Filipinos in Taiwan' should "not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries." Manila does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island which has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949. The Philippines, however, maintains a de-facto embassy in Taiwan, called the Manila Economic and Cultural Office or MECO. In case a war arises, Marcos said the Philippine government should plan for it already. ''And that's what I was talking about. How do we get our people out? How do we protect the – kung magkagulo – giyera na nga dito, eh malapit na sa atin. Anong gagawin natin? Okay lang, normal lang 'yan, pababayaan na lang natin kung sino pasok-labas dito sa atin.' Hindi naman puwede 'yun,'' he said. (If a conflict arises, in case there will be a war, it's near to us. What will we do? ''It's fine, it's normal, we just let whoever goes in an out of our country.'' That's not possible.) ''So, we'll have to do something. So, inevitably, despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody anywhere, war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines kicking and screaming into the conflict. That is what I was trying to say. That's why I don't understand,'' Marcos added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
