[IN PROGRESS]
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Secretary Joel Anthony Viado has declared his support for Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian’s inquiry into alleged corruption and misconduct within the agency raised recently by anonymous complaints.
In a statement, the immigration chief urged his personnel to comply with the Senate investigation.
To cooperate with the investigation, Viado also called on the unidentified “concerned employees” behind a “white paper” accusing him of mishandling the detention and deportation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to reveal themselves. He reasoned that their identities and sworn testimony would lend credibility to their claims.
“I am also urging the so-called “concerned employees” who allegedly released a “white paper” to come out in the open in order to help Senator Gatchalian conduct a thorough and credible inquiry at the Senate,” Viado said.
“We are aware that our lawmakers do not rely on hearsay and on allegations purveyed by those hiding behind the cloak of anonymity. It is important that they present themselves at the Senate, be put under oath and their testimonies be heard and recorded,” he added.
He said these employees are “guaranteed the full protection” of his office.
In addition, Viado has ordered documents relevant to an attempt to release Yang Jiang Xin or Tony Yang, a Chinese businessman, on bail to be compiled and turned over to Gatchalian’s committee.
He made it clear another high-ranking immigration official had issued the recommendation, and that he did not permit it, on the grounds that Yang was a flight risk as well as a national security concern.
“I have issued the same instruction concerning all incident reports pertaining to frustrated and consummated attempts to help questionable aliens get past proper immigration procedures at our ports of entry and exit,” Viado said.
The white paper sent by unnamed BI employees to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. spurred Gatchalian to (...)
