Big money at Immigration
SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH By Ernesto M. Maceda (The Philippine Star) Updated January
Source: Big money at Immigration - SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH By Ernesto M. Maceda | The Philippine Star >> News >> Opinion
Officers and employees of the Bureau of Immigration are up in arms against the “gross, blatant and deliberate violations of law” of Atty. Ronald P. Ledesma, officer-in-charge. They accuse him of removals, designations and reassignments of personnel without the approval of the Secretary of Justice. Particularly targetted are those considered close to President Arroyo and to former Commissioner Marcelino Libanan. Many have been arbitrarily transferred to outports. Employees have been ordered to be out of their offices by 5:30 p.m.
A white paper also points out that thousands of illegal Chinese and Korean nationals have entered the country and are holding jobs or doing business under the protection of Immigration officials. In Divisoria alone, hundreds of non-tagalog speaking Chinese are openly doing work as vendors and salesclerks. The “going rate” for non arrest is P250,000 per head. Also flourishing is a racket for the approval of petitions for recognition filed by naturalized Chinese for a fee of P300,000 per head.
Three women fixers headed by Betty well known at Binondo, are operating. Also thriving is the sale of missionary visas to fake pastors and clergymen.
Human trafficking and escort services at the airport is flourishing but with the price per head going up from P200,000 to P500,000. The US Embassy has complained about the large number of Filipino arrivals in the US with fake visas which should have been caught at NAIA.
The long lines at airport counters are still there. While it takes five minutes or less to clear immigration in Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and Singapore, it takes 20-30 minutes at the NAIA. New rules imposed by OIC Ledesma under Memorandum Order No. RPL-10-004 have delayed the airport clearance.
OIC Ronald Ledesma is impervious to criticism and advice and is very arrogant because he was recommended by a close associate of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa. Walang tuwid na daan sa Bureau of Immigration. DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima should take a closer look at what is happening at the Bureau of Immigration. There’s an impending paralysis about to hit that office.