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Bureau of Immigration (BI) chief Marcelino Libanan ordered yesterday the decongestion of the BI detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City following the killing of an American inmate in the jail last March 17.

Libanan said he has issued a memorandum order creating a special six-man committee tasked to come up with measures to decongest the BI jail.

The committee was directed to submit its recommendations within 30 days, specifically on how cases of detained aliens could be immediately and efficiently resolved to lessen the number of inmates in the jail.

BI Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro was named as head of the special committee. The other members are acting BI legal chief Bienvenido Chy and legal officers Antonio Carolino, Ronaldo Deray, Ramocito Tolentino, and Jose Carlitos Licas.

Libanan believes overcrowding in the BI jail is a factor that triggered the killing of American inmate Jesse James Broncil by jail guard Ricardo Iresare.

Iresare and three other guards on duty during the incident were immediately relieved from their posts. The BI administrative division is still determining the cause of the killing.

The BD chief stressed many aliens have remained in the bureau’s detention center despite deportation orders issued against them. He attributed this to slow ruling of courts on criminal cases against them.

148 foreigners are currently detained at the BI jail for various violations of immigration laws.

When Libanan took his post as BI chief, he said the improvement of the BI jail is one of his priorities. – Edu Punay