5 BI agents sacked over Jackie Tiu kidnapper’s deportation

Five officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration Detention Center (BIDC) have been sacked over the mysterious deportation of a Chinese suspect in the September 2001 kidnapping of Jackie Tiu.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. yesterday ordered the relief of BIDC warden Police Senior Superintendent Noel Espinosa, Civil Security Unit chief Police Superintendent Wendy Rosario, civil security agent Erwin Librojo, confidential agent Alex Bolado, and Police Officer 2 Daniel Villanueva.

Fernandez said the officers were penalized for "failure to prevent the irregularities in the bureau process that resulted in the illegal deportation of Zhang Du to China last May 7."

Likewise, Fernandez ordered all personnel along with contractual employees at the BIDC to be replaced.

"They will be replaced by officials of the Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division (BIID). Affected Immigration personnel would be temporarily recalled to the main office for evaluation," he stressed.

According to Fernandez, he has already terminated the services of Joselito Pagaduan, a confidential agent of the BI who allegedly escorted Zhang from the BIDC to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City.

Although the officials involved have already been suspended, Fernandez said the immigration bureau will still pursue its investigation of the case and determine possible involvement of other officials, including BIID chief Faizal Hussin.

An official told The STAR that Hussin made a request for clearance on behalf of Zhang from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"We will still determine the extent of penalty on these officials, including possible filing of necessary administrative or criminal charges against them," added Benjamin Kalaw, the lawyer who is leading the BI investigation team.

Tiu earlier called on Fernandez to file charges against immigration officials who allegedly helped the principal suspect facing trial escape from the country.

She also called on Fernandez to take steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

‘Relief Not Enough’

In reaction to Fernandez’s announcement, Tiu stressed that further investigation is necessary to identify other erring officials involved in the escape.

"The relief order is not enough. It should not end there. We have to know who ordered the release of Zhang and who signed the papers. I believe that a ranking official of the bureau is behind the escape," lamented Tiu.

Fernandez earlier cleared his name over the escape incident, saying he was attending an International Police conference in France at the time of Zhang’s escape. He said the supervision of the bureau was left to Associate Commissioner Teodoro Delarmente.

Delarmente, for his part, denied responsibility for the escape.

"I had no personal knowledge or official information that Zhang Du was actually deported without proper authority. I had not received any report before or after his deportation," he said.

Tiu sought the help of President Arroyo in asking the Chinese government to bring the suspect back to the country and face the ongoing trial in a San Fernando City regional trial court in La Union.

She also called on other government agencies, including the NBI and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to join the investigation. The NBI has responded positively and said it is willing to help Tiu in her effort to punish those responsible for Zhang’s escape.

Zhang was able to post bail after the charges against him were lowered from principal to accessory suspect in the kidnapping.

But he was again arrested in 2002 when immigration officials discovered Zhang was an undocumented alien.

Since then, Zhang has been detained at the bureau’s detention cell in Taguig City.

Fernandez earlier said it is still possible to have Zhang returned to the country through standing mutual cooperation agreements between the two countries.