A South Korean businessman lodged a complaint for grave misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against a Bureau of Immigration and Deportation official who allegedly prevented him from leaving the country for South Korea last week.
Cho Chang Je, who is temporary residing in sitio Kalubihan, barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, filed the complaint against BID officer Brandon Inad with the assistance from his lawyer, Luisito Arma.
Cho, who said he is a stockholder of PADO Dive Camp Resort Corporation based in barangay Marigondon, has acquired a working visa from the BID and a working permit from the Department of Labor and Employment.
He said as a businessman, he habitually traveled to South Korea to scout for possible investments aside from inviting Korean diving enthusiasts to visit their resort in Lapu-Lapu City.
But he claimed that on July 11, he was scheduled to board the 3:45 p.m. Cebu Pacific flight to Seoul when Inad prevented him from leaving.
He said he contacted his office and instructed their firm’s operation manager, Oscar Brananola, and general manager, Kim Seung Tae, to inform BID Director Geronimo Rosas regarding the problem.
Rosas, Cho said, did not have any information about the problem when contacted.
The complainant said Inad informed him that he is on the Department of Justice watch-list in relation to a pending labor case filed against PADO Dive Camp Resort Corp.
“Atty. Brandon Inad, when confronted, could not give details of my alleged inclusion in the watch list and neither could he present any proof that a Hold Departure Order against my person has been duly issued by a competent court,” Cho said in his complaint.
He claimed he was to pursue a P13 million contract when he had booked to leave for Korea on July 11.
He further said he was informed that Inad is closely associated with Sun Kwon, who lodged a complaint against him before the National Labor Relations Commission.
Cho stressed that the Ombudsman should look into the actuation of Inad.
Arma said his client loses millions of pesos because of his aborted travel.
Inad, on the other hand, strongly denied the accusation, saying he is willing to face the complaint in court. — Jose P. Sollano/LPM