18 immigration agents suspended over P9.4-million extortion

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered the suspension of 18 personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) while they are being investigated for allegedly extorting P9.4 million from 15 South Koreans, the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) said yesterday.

In a statement, the PACC said it was Duterte who ordered the suspension of the 18 BI agents while investigation on the alleged extortion complaint is ongoing.

BI spokesperson Dana Mengote-Sandoval said a panel has been formed to verify the allegations made against 18 of their agents.

“There is a fact-finding committee to gather more information about the case, to be submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is our mother department. There is also a separate probe by the (National Bureau of Investigation) on this for possible filing of criminal charges,” Sandoval said.

The agents may face dismissal from government service, the DOJ said yesterday.

Justice Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perete said the agents could be ordered dismissed from government service, depending on the findings of the investigation.

Ten of the 18 regular employees have been ordered preventively suspended for 90 days while facing administrative charges of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the service.

“If they are found guilty, they may be terminated from employment with loss of all benefits and prohibition from engagement in government,” Perete said.

As for the eight others holding job order positions, the DOJ official said their office is evaluating proper course of action.

An insider, however, bared that the confidential agents – Jerson Alabata, Romeo Cabigquez, Eunice de Guzman, Ricalia Racelis, Rennard Quebral, Ferdinand Orendain, Dinarosan Macatanong and Lee Marvin Terminio – could be immediately terminated.

The source explained that job order positions in government are not covered by Civil Service rules, which require administrative proceedings and investigation before penalties could be imposed.

The 18 BI agents reportedly extorted P9.4 million from 15 Koreans whom they arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga on March 6 for supposedly overstaying in violation of the country’s immigration laws. The Koreans were reportedly threatened that they would be detained if they do not give the money.

The Koreans were made to pay various amounts ranging from P280,000 to P1 million.

The agents allegedly even namedropped Duterte as they told the arrested foreigners that they could not run to Malacañang for help.

The report reached the President, who summoned the BI personnel involved to the Palace last week.

A complaint was later filed against them 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. We have requested the DOJ, which is our mother department, to issue the suspension order,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said earlier.  –  With Edu Punay