MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered the immediate relief and dismissal of one of its agents following a high-profile entrapment operation in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Tuesday evening, May 5.
The suspect, a 61-year-old BI agent, was apprehended by officers of the Philippine National Police Regional Police Office 7 (PNP-RPO 7) inside a restaurant along A.S. Fortuna Street. The sting operation was launched after a 43-year-old Korean national lodged a complaint alleging that the suspect was demanding protection money.
During the operation, the complainant acted as a poseur-victim and handed over marked money to the suspect, leading to an immediate arrest once the cash was received.
Law enforcement officials recovered the marked bills used in the operation from the suspect’s possession. Following the arrest, the BI confirmed that administrative charges have been initiated against the agent.
Furthermore, the agency has endorsed the case to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to facilitate the formal termination of his contract of service, ensuring he is permanently removed from the government workforce.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, May 6, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reaffirmed that the bureau maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct.
“We will not allow a single erring employee to tarnish the integrity of the Bureau. This incident demonstrates that law enforcement entities and other government agencies are making an effort to stop individuals from abusing their authority,” Viado said.
The Commissioner further emphasized the agency’s commitment to self-cleansing and cooperation with other law enforcement bodies to weed out predatory personnel. “We will ensure that justice is served, and move swiftly to remove those who exploit others,” he added, noting that the bureau will continue to monitor the conduct of its field offices to prevent similar abuses of power.|
