Bureau of Immigration sacks 39 employees, suspends 23 others

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has dismissed 39 employees from service and suspended 23 others for their alleged involvement in extortion and other anomalies, an official said yesterday.

BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said he signed last week an order terminating the services of the 39 employees, many of whom were charged with extortion, grave misconduct, gross insubordination, neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service.

“These dismissal orders are already long overdue. I have to implement them, lest we be accused of being tolerant of any wrongdoing in our bureau,” he said in a statement.

BI administrative chief Felino Quirante Jr. said that of the 39 dismissed workers, 14 were permanent employees and 25 were confidential agents assigned to various offices of the bureau.

He said 17 of the confidential agents were sacked because of complaints that involved extortion.

Quirante also said that 16 immigration officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport accounted for most of those who were put under preventive suspension for 90 days without pay pending the results of an investigation into their alleged involvement in irregularities at the NAIA.