BI seeks SolGen’s help on mining exec’s case

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration will seek the assistance of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) after the Court of Appeals (CA) ordered the release of mining executive Joseph Sy from the BI detention facility in Taguig.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI received a copy of the resolution issued by the CA’s Eighth Division.

In a decision promulgated on Tuesday, the appeals court ordered the BI to release Sy and notify the CA of its action within five days after receiving the resolution.

“We will be coordinating with the OSG for available legal remedies,” Viado said.

The BI investigated Sy, whose Chinese name is supposedly Chen Zhong Zhen, for allegedly acquiring his Filipino citizenship documents illegally.

A Taguig court had ordered the BI to release the businessman.

Sy, chairman of Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., has been under the BI’s custody since Aug. 21 following his arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.