9 hours ago
DOJ urges BI employees to come forward amid corruption allegations
Justice spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano has urged the anonymous Immigration employees who reported alleged corruption in the agency to come forward and share their evidence with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
'Lumutang na sana yung mga nag complain dahil ito naman ay isang safe space para sa kanila. Eh dito nga tinatry ang mga admin cases ng mga BI officers eh, 'di ba? Dito hinahain ang mga 'yun. Dito talaga pino-process 'yun,' Clavano said in an ambush interview Monday.
(I hope the complainants will come forward since this is a safe space for them. This is where the administrative cases against BI officers are tried. This is where those are filed. This is really where they're processed.)
This came after Immigration personnel anonymously submitted a letter to the Office of the President to report the supposed corrupt practices under the present BI leadership, including the mishandling of POGO-related cases and their deportation.
Clavano stressed that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has repeatedly said that he wanted to clean the ranks of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
When asked if the DOJ will conduct its own internal investigation, Clavano said it has not yet reached that point as the only basis is the letter, calling it 'vague.'
According to the spokesperson, the Justice Department is 'evidence-based.'
'Sana magbigay pa sila ng mas matibay na evidence, no, or mga supporting documents. Dahil sa tingin naman natin, we have followed the letter of the President's directive, which is to make sure that all POGOs are banned and deported out of the country,' Clavano said.
(I hope they provide stronger evidence or supporting documents. Because we believe we have followed the president's directive to the letter, which is to ensure that all POGOs are banned and deported out of the country.)
He also expressed hope that this is not an attempt to use the current political climate.
'Ngayon, sana naman hindi gamitin ang political climate, lalo na na may courtesy resignations ang mga head of agency, bilang channel or tool para mamulitika sa loob ng BI,' he said.
(Now, I hope the political climate, especially with the courtesy resignations of agency heads, won't be used as a channel or tool for politicking within the BI.)
For his part, BI Commissioner Joel Viado earlier denied the allegations against him. He dismissed the accusations as 'patently false' and dubbed it a 'smear campaign.' — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
