Soldier-turned-lawyer named immigration OIC

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima appointed on Wednesday, July 17, Siegfred B. Mison as the officer in charge (OIC) of the Bureau of Immigration.

A West Point graduate, Mison joined the Philippine military shortly after his graduation in 1987. While assigned in the intelligence community, he took up law and eventually retired as a major after passing the bar.

Mison is also a partner at Malcolm law as the firm’s estate planning and commercial law expert. He’s a son of Salvador Mison Sr, a longtime customs bureau chief and retired general.

He replaces Ricardo David Jr, a retired Armed Forces chief of staff who was appointed to the bureau in 2011 by President Benigno Aquino III. David quit last July 12 following persistent problems in the bureau.

Mison also worked with the AFP Retirement and Separation Benefits System (RSBS) as a lawyer. He also served as a resource speaker for UNICEF-sponsored seminars on justice and child’s rights.

In a statement, De Lima said “such designation shall not include the power to act on matters involving policy determination, approval of long-term contracts, and transaction, appointment and firing of personnel, and other matters that go beyond acts of mere supervision or administration or are, by their nature, essentually within the authority of the Secretary of Justice.”

The statement added, “In light of the foregoing designation, Atty Ronaldo P. Ledesma, in turn, is hereby designated as OIC of the Office of Associate Commissioner Mison.” 

The appointment came after Malacañang’s announcement of Ricardo David Jr’s resignation as immigration chief on Tuesday, July 16.  – Rappler.com