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MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the administrative charges filed by the justice department against 6 immigration personnel who have committed illegal activities at the Clark airport in Pampanga.
A 12-page decision penned by Associate Justice Noel Tijam of the CA Sixth Division said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima hyas the power to discipline the personnel who were found guilty of facilitating illegal transactions at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
De Lima had issued a resolution against Bureau of Immigration (BI) employees Heranio B. Manalo, Lucito Mercado, Arlene Mendoza, Jacqueline F. Miranda, Ramon P. Lapid, and Misael M. Tayag, who were found to have allowed passengers to enter and exit the country without visas and other travel documents. They allowed to leave even persons who were subjects of Hold Departure Orders and Watch List Orders.
The 6 BI personnel brought the case to the CA, filing a petition for certiorari against De Lima, whose resolution was meant to reverse a memorandum issued by Arroyo administration Justice Secretary Alberto Agra. Agra ordered the dismissal of the administrative charges against the BI personnel.
In June 2014, another division of the CA affirmed the dismissal from service of two immigration personnel, also stationed at the Macapagal airport, for aiding human traffickers. The case against them stemmed from a complaint filed BI personnel Racel Ong, who was also being investigated for the same offense.
Agra dismissed Ong’s complaint, saying the latter had an axe to grind against the two personnel, Robin Pinzon and Sheryll Manguerra.
The case against the 6 other BI personnel were based on Ong’s testimony as well.
“We are inclined to agree with the conclusion of Secretary De Lima, particularly in holding that the testimony of Ong against them is credible since. As a co-conspirator, she has personal knowledge of illegal activities committed by them in the DMIA,” the CA Sixth Division’s said.
A 2010 investigation by the justice department panel led to the filing of criminal charges against Ong for violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act.
Ong has since pointed to other immigration personnel who were involved in illegal activities at the Macapagal airport. – Rappler.com
Hands Tied image via ShutterStock.
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