Immigration chief orders probe vs. regional BID execs

Bureau of Immigration commissioner Alipio Fernandez has ordered an investigation into the alleged anomalous practices at the BID Central Visayas office.

Fernandez said he would task the legal and personnel divisions of the bureau to look into the allegations of businessman George Tan. He, however, urged Tan to furnish the BID with a copy of his complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Fernandez said demanding money from foreigners in exchange for their entry into the country is illegal. "Immediately, administrative action shall be taken."

Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, on the other hand, explained why until now there has been no result in their investigation on the earlier complaints filed against Rosas.

Gonzales said that they are carefully looking into the allegations because the issue could be an intra-office conflict, adding that somebody within the BID might be out to destroy Rosas.

Rosas was earlier accused of smuggling Indians, allowing Indian nationals to enter the country even without proper documentation for a fee, prompting the DOJ to conduct an investigation against him.

But even before the DOJ investigating panel could render its report, another complaint was filed against Rosas and three other immigration officials before the Ombudsman the other day.

Rosas was also accused of barring two Chinese technicians from entering the country through the Mactan Cebu International Airport for their alleged failure to pay the P200,000 demand.

Tan, a businessman from Quezon City who is engaged in prawn farming, accused Rosas, immigration officers Gemma Maximo-Torres, Reynaldo Abrea and Ferdie Balbuena of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and lodged criminal and administrative complaints against them before the anti-graft body.

Tan said because he already operates more than 1,000 hectares of prawn farms in different parts of the country, he decided to hire the expertise of two Chinese technicians from Hong Kong to assist him.

The technicians, Deng Minwei and Cai Zhouzhi, arrived at the MCIA last November 13 but were allegedly arbitrarily barred entry for being considered as "persons likely to become public charge."

An order of exclusion that Torres issued, which was also noted by Abrea, the deputy supervisor, cited Section 29, Paragraph A, Sub-paragraph 5 of the Republic Act 1940 otherwise known as the Philippine Immigration Act.

Tan said it was absurd and presumptuous for the immigration officials to consider the two Chinese technicians he hired as "likely to become public charge." Gabriel Andujar and Reginald Cabigas, Tan's friends who met the two technicians at the airport, said when the two foreigners arrived, immigration agents immediately escorted them to Rosas' office.

At Rosas' office, they were allegedly asked if the two could produce P100,000 each for them to be allowed entry.

But because the two have no money, Rosas ordered Balbuena to immediately let the Chinese technicians board the earliest flight back to Hong Kong.

Immigration officials, however, strongly denied the allegations, saying that the complaint was libelous and pure fabrication.

In a press conference yesterday, Rosas strongly denied demanding P200,000 from the two Chinese nationals. He said the bureau stands firm in barring aliens with suspicious character and dubious purpose.

Rosas said they are now tightly watching the MCIA because of the upcoming 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December.

He stressed that in the case of the two Chinese nationals, it was discovered during inspection that they have a tourist visa issued by the Philippine consulate in Xiamen, China. He said the duo have difficulty in writing and speaking English.

Rosas cited the Memorandum Order No. ADD-01-05 dated March 29, 2001 issued by former commissioner Andrea Domingo that they used in issuing the order of exclusion against the two Chinese nationals.

Rosas also strongly denied having met with Tan.

"There is likewise no truth that I allegedly demanded money neither from him (Tan) nor from anyone else." Rosas said. - Fred P. Languido and Jose P. Sollano