West Point grad appointed BI commissioner

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Saturday, December 21, announced the appointment of Siegfred Mison as commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) .

The appointment papers were signed by President Benigno Aquino III on December 19. With his permanent appointment, Mison now has the power to make policy decisions, approve long-term contracts, and appoint or fire personnel. As OIC, he did not have these powers.

Mison, whose father Salvador Mison served as Customs commissioner, took over the bureau after Ricardo David resigned in July. He was appointed associate commissioner in the BI in 2011.

Mison graduated with a degree in Management from the US Military Academy at Westpoint in 1987. Shortly after, he joined the Philippine military, where he did counter-insurgency operations and security and intelligence. He was also detailed with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separation Benefits system.

He retired as a major after passing the bar. Mison has a law degree Juris Doctor from Ateneo and a Masters of Law degree from the University of Southern California.

The West Point graduate is also a partner at Malcolm law, and taught at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law and the University of the East College of Law. – Rappler.com