Call for replacement of BI chief

THE NEWS report titled “BI chief accused of favoring alien” (Inquirer, 9/10/12) is still fresh in my mind. It upset me so I made some inquiries. When news came out that President Aquino scolded the Bureau of Immigration officials and employees during their anniversary, I could only say to myself, “Serves them right.”

The President should replace Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David. There are enough reasons to do so, including David’s issuance of a multiple entry and exit permit to Masaaki Ema, a Japanese national blacklisted for physically assaulting and harming Rowelyn Vitto, a former employee of his. As stated in the news which I was able to confirm, the poor woman, a single mother, had to be brought to the hospital and could not work for a month. Let me add here that under David: (1) two fugitives, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother Mayor Mario Reyes, both wanted for the killing of the late environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega, were able to flee the country; (2) fugitive Koreans were allowed to enter the Philippines; and (3) Filipino staff of the Malaysian foreign minister during his visit here for the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro were held on a totally unfounded suspicion. David, a military man and former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, does not have the competence for the job, especially the implementation of immigration laws.

David issued the entry and exit permit to Ema because the Japanese “had to attend to his ailing mother in Japan . . .  and to let Ema attend to the cases he was facing in Manila.” While waiting for the hearing, if ever there will be one, Ema, who has been ordered deported prior to the issuance of his entry and exit permit, is free to roam around and enjoy his stay in the Philippines, because it’s more fun to be here. Meanwhile, the poor young Filipino mother is now in hiding for fear of her life and that of her child.

Earlier, the BI board of commissioners, in which David sits, upheld the deportation order issued by former officer in charge Ronaldo Ledesma. What made David sing a different tune afterwards?

When an alien is ordered deported, he should be deported, period. He should stay in his country of origin and just wait for the decision of the Office of the President on his appeal. This is standard operating procedure.

How much longer will poor Filipino women workers continue to suffer injustice in the hands of abusive aliens right here in their own country? The abuses committed abroad against women OFWs, understandably, would be more difficult for the Philippine government to address than the abuses committed in our country against Filipino women by foreigners. The worse thing in Vitto’s case is that her Japanese abuser has been favored by her fellow Filipino and a top government official at that.

—ANGELINA FRIAS,

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