Immigration commissioner to resign on June 30

MANILA, Philippines - Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan Jr. said yesterday he would resign on June 30 as he is co-terminus with President Arroyo.

“I will submit a courtesy resignation to the next president. If it is Noynoy (Sen. Benigno Aquino III) who is proclaimed winner, I will submit it to him,” Libanan said.

He said he would submit his resignation even if the Senate and the House of Representatives finally approve today the proposed Philippine Immigration Act of 2009.

“Let me assure my former colleagues in Congress that I will submit my resignation to dispel insinuations that this bill was only designed to prolong my stay in the bureau,” Libanan said.

Asked if his two associate commissioners would make a similar gesture, Libanan said, “I cannot speak for them, but I expect them to follow my example.”

There are reports that former Bulacan representative Jose Cabochan, who is a member of Aquino’s Liberal Party, is eyeing Libanan’s job.

Cabochan served as associate immigration commissioner when former Batangas representative Edgar Mendoza was head of the then Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, now Bureau of Immigration.

He and Mendoza, together with another associate commissioner, were once investigated by the Senate in connection with the allegedly irregular use of fees immigration personnel collected from carriers at international airports and seaports.

Libanan called The STAR to clarify that under the proposed Philippine Immigration Act of 2009, he and his two associate commissioners would act as transition officials of the planned Commission on Immigration for only one year and not for three years.

“This is because incumbent commissioners of the bureau are in the best position to implement the reforms contained in the proposed law, which is not about me but is about immigration reforms,” he said.

Libanan stressed that a new immigration act for the country is long overdue, since the present Immigration Law is already antiquated and is no longer attuned to the needs of the times.

“The bill calls for the institution of policies and procedures that make it easier for foreigners to visit or do business in the Philippines,” Libanan said.

He also cited provisions in the bill that strengthen the government’s ability to thwart the entry of undesirable aliens, including foreign terrorists, fugitives, drug traffickers and human traffickers.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are scheduled to approve the draft new immigration law today, when they hold their last session before the 14th Congress bows out of existence on June 30.

Also on the House agenda is the approval of the Freedom of Information bill.

Thus, approval of the immigration measure could be described as midnight legislation that could give Libanan and his two associate commissioners a one-year term extension.

Libanan is a former Eastern Samar congressman.

The House had approved the bill before Congress adjourned its session last Feb. 4 for the election campaign. – With Rudy Santos