Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian recently made a strong call for a comprehensive investigation into the corrupt practices of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in handling the deportation of foreign nationals associated with POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators).
He warned that if the Bureau of Immigration becomes a tool for protecting illegal operators, it would not only undermine the authority of the law but also weaken the government's enforcement of policies against illegal POGOs.
This week, Gatchalian submitted Resolution No. 1381 to the Senate, formally requesting an investigation into the senior management of the Bureau of Immigration. The resolution is based on reports from several BI insiders who allege that some officials are involved in irregular practices, such as "expediting" the bail process for foreign nationals involved in cases, and even secretly trading permanent residency visas to the highest bidder.
Moreover, an anonymous complaint letter was delivered to the Presidential Office earlier this month, directly accusing senior BI officials of abuse of power and making business out of visas. Although the letter was unsigned and the details unclear, President Marcos still responded in an interview that despite the difficulties of the investigation, the government will continue to pursue it, "We will not ignore any allegations."
Gatchalian emphasized that the Bureau of Immigration is a key agency in enforcing national immigration laws and must not allow corruption to fester. "We need to thoroughly check internal loopholes and rebuild trust in fair law enforcement."
