Punitive action vs BI officials sought on deportation of 14 Taiwanese

MANILA, Philippines -  Recruiters called yesterday for punitive action against officials found liable for the improper handling of the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to China.

The Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAT) has urged the Court of Appeals (CA) to immediately resolve the issue whether Bureau of Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma or any other official may be charged with contempt of court for disregarding the habeas corpus petition of six Taiwanese accused of fraud.

Jackson Gan, PILMAT president, believes a possible action against Ledesma would appease the Taiwanese government, which had threatened to ban the hiring of Filipinos to protest the deportation of the 14 Taiwanese to China.

“The findings of the Court of Appeals in the event that Ledesma may be culpable of disregarding a legal court of order will be enough to mollify the anger of the Taiwanese and subsequently ease up on the new restrictions imposed for the applications of work visas in Taiwan,” he said.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Timothy Yang had agreed during a meeting with President Aquino’s private envoy Manuel Roxas to a commitment that any Philippine officials found to have mishandled the case would be held accountable and possibly reprimanded, Gan said.

A “fact sheet” forged during the meeting listed this as among the “substantial measures” that would make up for a formal apology.

“In the event that officials are found to have been involved in wrongdoing, the Philippine authorities will act accordingly, including the possibility of punitive action, which for the Taiwan side would signify a kind of apology,” read the fact sheet.– With Christina Mendez