Response of BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison on allegations of corrupt "Gang of Four" at BI

OFFICIAL RESPONSE OF BI CHIEF COMMISSIONER SIEGFRED MISON ON THE ISSUES RAISED BY FAIZAL U. HUSSIN IN AN ADVERTISEMENT PUBLISHED IN THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

07/07/2015


To His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III

To my fellow Public Servants at the Bureau of Immigration and to My fellow Filipinos,

In a full-page advertisement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled “An Open Letter to the President,” Atty. Faisal Hussin, signing in his capacity as President of the Buklod ng Kawani ng CID (BUKLOD-CID) and "supposedly" on behalf of its members, came up with contrived allegations in an attempt to malign my reputation.

At the outset, let it be clear that BUKLOD-CID, the recognized labor association of BI, has disowned Hussin’s statement and clarified that the executive board of the BUKLOD-CID did not authorize Hussin to write the said letter. Atty. Gregorio Sadiasa, current president of BUKLOD-CID, said that “any statement made therein is his personal opinion and is not the official statement of the BUKLOD-CID.”

As what is expected of Atty. Hussin, this open letter is another case of misrepresentation, the very same offense he committed last 2009 when he falsified his birthdate in his Personal Data Sheet (PDS) to justify his prolonged stay at the bureau. The letter of Hussin (not of BUKLOD) is yet another malicious and desperate move from a man who stands as an accused in an extortion case which happened two years ago in Cebu, which case is subject of an Ombudsman complaint filed by the foreigner-victim himself.

The allegations in the letter are not new, in fact, they have been fully addressed in the past and have been published in a few tabloids. What is the motivation of Hussin and his cohorts? These so-called “old timers”, disgruntled employees, or BAD GUYS from within want nothing more than to destroy the reforms being institutionalized at the Bureau of Immigration. They are after me because I am the one leading the charge for genuine change to happen in the bureau. They are after me since they have lost and continue to lose "illegal revenue" from their corrupt practices. The letter recirculated cases already resolved while twisting certain facts of actual incidents to substantiate frivolous complaints.

Allow me to address the issues one by one.

1.      Reimbursement of gasoline and toll expenses: This issue has been resolved a long time ago of which I was reprimanded. The claims for reimbursement were prepared by my subordinate (who I immediately terminated due to this specific misconduct), as it was physically impossible for me to look into each and every reimbursement’s accuracy, propriety, and sufficiency. My accuser in this case, Atty. Felino Quirante, Jr., is a respondent himself in an Ombudsman case for illegally receiving funds, which case was however dismissed due to his untimely demise late last year. Atty. Quirante has openly held grudges against me as he had accused me of being responsible for his removal as chief of the BI’s administrative division last 2011. In deference to the late Atty. Quirante and as a matter of respect to his family, I deemed it wise not to elaborate further.

2.    Fu Gaofeng: In this deportation case, in my capacity as Commissioner, I issued a warrant of deportation under the erroneous belief that the deportation order has reached its finality. I rectified the error of recalling the defective warrant after finding out that respondent’s counsel did not receive a copy of the deportation order. Thus, there was no illegal release since the supposed arrest was defective in the first place. My decision to recall the warrant was even bolstered by the fact that the Secretary of Justice recently issued a resolution ordering the release of Fu, which shows that the deportation order was not final and therefore cannot support or justify a warrant. My accuser in this case, Ricardo Cabochan is a known ally of Hussin. He used to head the BI Baguio office until his relief due to embezzlement of funds under his watch. He was also suspended for three months due to his negligence in the visa processing of a foreign national. He had served his suspension but not without filing at least 3 complaints against me. Cabochan was also implicated in an NBI investigation where Koreans based in Baguio complained of extortion. Incidentally, Cabochan is the brother of a former Associate Commissioner in BI, who is confirmed by reliable sources to be eyeing the position of commissioner of BI.

3.    Wilson Ong Cheng: Official documents revealed that Wilson Ong Cheng’s name was LAWFULLY lifted from the blacklist and the appropriate fees were paid as early as November 4, 2014 but such lifting was apparently not reflected in the airport’s database when Cheng entered on March 11. Thus, his request to recall the exclusion order against him was immediately allowed after verifying official documents and the system. There is no irregularity in this process. The author of the Open Letter, Atty. Faisal Hussin is now an accused for extortion in a case filed by Wilson Ong Cheng himself - the subject of the recall order. In an operation in Cebu sometime in November 2013, Hussin and his team allegedly extorted money from several individuals and schools in consideration for their release from BI custody. The investigation report re this extortion incident is currently with the Department of Justice.

More importantly, Hussin should have retired from the service in 2013, upon reaching 65 years of age, but he falsified his birth documents to prolong his stay in the bureau and continue his nefarious practice of extortion and harassment of foreign nationals. Based on OFFICIAL records, Hussin has been the subject of not less than 10 administrative cases throughout his "extended" stay in the Bureau, most of which involved extortion and harassment of foreign nationals. The majority of these cases however have either been dismissed due to technicalities or lack of interest on the part of complainants, while others have resulted to a reprimand. Acting on a tip received last month, I filed a criminal case before the Ombudsman against Hussin for misrepresentation and falsification of documents since he supposedly reached the mandatory age of retirement on January 30, 2013, based on the records from the Office of the Bar Confidant, among others, which states that his date of birth is January 30, 1948. However, Hussin managed to "extend his stay" in BI because he belatedly submitted to the BI, a birth certificate from the National Statistics Office which states that he was born on June 30, 1950 issued by virtue of a delayed registration of birth.

4. Overtime Pay: Since the institutionalization of express lane fees sometime in 1989, all previous commissioners as well as all employees of the Bureau have been receiving a corresponding share in the said trust fund pursuant to Section 7-A of the C.A. 613 and pertinent DOJ regulations. A May 2014 memorandum from the Commission on Audit has unequivocally stated that: “[c]onsidering the practice for BI Commissioners to receive overtime pay and that there is no provision of law exempting the incumbent BI Commissioner from the receipt thereof, there exists no reason why Commissioner Mison cannot be allowed to receive the same overtime pay because he is also an employee of the Bureau of Immigration.”

The Bureau has gone through great lengths to implement the President’s ‘Tuwid Na Daan’ policy but these people (Hussin, Cabochan, et al) do not want to change their old and corrupt ways. Their willingness to shell out more than Php 300,000.00 to publish a letter supposedly sanctioned by the recognized labor association of the Bureau, reflects that their efforts are well-funded and organized. It cannot be denied that Atty. Hussin and Associate Commissioner Gilberto Repizo (who is involved in the Wang Bo deportation controversy) worked closely together as technical assistants of then Associate Commissioner Lopez during the latter’s tenure from 1996 to 1998. Sources say that Hussin and Cabochan are in fact seen very often inside the office of AC Repizo since the latter assumed office last December 2013.

This latest attack on my integrity is a manifestation that my campaign against the BAD GUYS from within is working. This latest attack is an indication that these BAD GUYS will resort to all kinds of machinations to perpetuate or put themselves to positions of power and influence to propagate their corrupt practices. This latest attack is a sign for more vicious and more malicious publications to come unless these BAD GUYS are removed from the Bureau.

Let me warn this “Gang of Four” that as much as they will not stop attacking my character as their way of opposing reforms, I shall not stop introducing and institutionalizing reforms needed in the Bureau of Immigration, without fear or favor, to provide the most efficient, innovative, and effective immigration service.

With my utmost respect to all well-meaning Filipinos,

Siegfred B Mison
Public Servant
Bureau of Immigration

Sa kabila ng UNOS na DULOT NG MAKABAGONG MGA ANAY NA PUMASOK, MANANATILING TUWID ANG DAAN NG MGA KAWANI NG BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION

Mga anay at lintang pilit kinakain ang natitirang ahensyang tunay na sumusunod sa tuwid na daan, may paglalagyan kayo.

Krusada na ng mga tunay na Patriotikong elemento ng Bureau of Immigration ang pagbutihin ang kanilang mga trabaho at magsikhay upang mas tumindi pa ang kumpiyansa ng mga mamamayan maging mga dayuhan sa Bureau.

Sa totoo, ang mga Pilipinong tumutulong upang mapabuti ang Bureau of Immigration ay siyang mga Pilipinong naniwalang may magagawa tayo upang magkaroon ng pagbabago, maski man lamang sa isang ahensyang ito na dati rati'y sakit ng ulo at puno ng katiwalian at kadumihan.

Naniwala sa slogan ni Pangulong Pnoy na tuwid na daan, sineryoso at isinakripisyo maski personal na kapakanan at kaunting yaman, para lamang mapatunayan sa sarili at sa bayan, na mayroon pang pag-asa, mayroon pang magagawa upang mabago ang kalakarang sumira na sa lipunang Pilipino ng matagal nang panahon.

Unti-unti, isa-isa, at tulong tulong na nagkaisa ang mga Pilipinong ito upang mapabuti at tumuwid ang daan ng mga tiwali sa Bureau of Immigration. Unang humakbang para i-train ang mga empleyado. Binago ang kanilang mga kaisipan na ang pwesto sa gobyerno ay isang serbisyo publiko, hindi serbisyong pansarili.

binago ang hiring system sa bureau. mula sa turo-turo system (meaning political appointments), gnawing merit system. Hindi na madaling makapasok sa bureau. kung sino ka man, basta me talino ka, handang magsakripisyo para sa bayan at handing ilaan ang buong sarili para paglingkuran ang nakararami.

Para matuldukan ang katiwalian, rotation ng mga empleyado ang ginawa. Ito'y para maalis ang familiarization sa puwesto. Mahirap ngunit tiniis ng mga taga Bureau sa paniniwalang ito'y isa lamang sa yugto ng kanilang pakikibaka upang mabago ang kalakaran sa Bureau.

Ngayon naman, heto't pumutok ang isang isyung tunay na kasuklam-suklam!

Mga bagong anay na walang ginawa kundi ang isulong ang pansariling interes at kita!

Aba'y isipin mong pumirma sa isang resolusyon upang manatili sa bansa ang isang talamak na gambling lord kaysa itapon sa kanyang bansang sinilangan at duon pagdusahan ang kanyang mga ginawang kasalanan laban sa kanyang mga kadugo at bayan.

ang kapalit daw ay 100 MILYONG PISO.

100 milyong piso??? ito ba ang kapalit ng ISANG TSINONG KRIMINAL na tunay na MAGHAHASIK DITO NG SANLAKSANG KALOKOHAN AT KASAKITAN?

KITLIN ANG MGA BUHAY NG TIWALI!! WALANG PUWANG SA LIPUNANG PILIPINO ANG MGA ANAY NA ITO NA SUMISIRA SA ATING LIPUNAN AT MORALIDAD!!

KILALA NINYO ANG INYONG MGA SARILI, KAYONG SINA GILBERT REPIZO JUNIOR AT ABDULLAH MANGONTARA SAMPU NG IBA PA!!

MGA KAPAL ANG MUKHA!!! IPAGPAPALIT ANG KAPAKANAN NG KANILANG KABABAYAN MAGKAROON LANG NG PERSONAL NA GANANSYA.

AT ISIPIN PANG ABOGADO ANG MGA ITO. DAPAT SANA KAYO ANG UNANG UNANG MAGIISIP NA MAGING RESPONSABLE SA KILOS AT GAWA AT ITULOY ANG REPORMA. PERO KAYO PA RIN ANG MGA PRUMONTANG MGA KAWATAN PARA LAANG MAILIGTAS SA KAMATAYAN ITONG KRIMINAL NA WANG BO!!

MAGING ARAL SANA ITO SA MGA NAGBABALAK PANG MANGIKIL NG PERA SA MGA DAYUHAN--NAGHIHINTAY AT MAGHIHINTAY KAMI NG DESISYON NG KALIHIM NG KATARUNGAN AT SANA'Y MAKITA NAMING MAALIS SA PWESTO ANG MGA KAWATANG ITO!!

Pati ba naman Bureau of Immigration, idinawit ng LP sa electoral fund-raising??

Sa mga nangyayari dyan sa Bureau of Immigration, kailangang busisiing mabuti at imbestigahan na ng Malakanyang ang ginagawang milagro nitong si Associate Commissioner Attorney Gilberto Repizo Jr.

Aba’y malakas na malakas ang ugong na kumita raw diumano itong si Repizo nang mag-abogado ito para mapalaya ang isang talamak na Chinese gambling lord na ang  pangalan ay Wang Bo.

Kahapon nga, umamin na ang isang kasapakat diumano nitong si Repizo, si Associate Commissioner Abdullah Mangontara.

Ayon kay Mangontara, nagkasarahan daw itong grupo nina Repizo at mga kinatawan ni Wang Bo sa isang hotel sa China kung saan duon nagkabayaran diumano ng mahigit 400 million pesos…

Kasama sa grupo ni Repizo si Bureau of Immigration legal services chief Atty. Cris Villalobos at ilang iba pang opisyales ng bureau…

Mukha yatang fund raising mode itong si Repizo dahil malaki ang pagkatalo nito noong nakaraang eleksyon noong 2013 bilang alkalde ng Calapan Mindoro. At sang-ayon sa sources sa Immigration, ilang buwan nang butas ang bulsa nitong si Repizo na mukhang nakakalimutang associate commissioner na siya, at hindi abogado.

Nakakita ng oportunidad itong si Repizo sa kaso ni Wang Bo. Itong si Wang Bo, ay big-time gambling lord at money launderer sa China. Ayon sa Chinese consul na si Fu Yunbei, maraming nabiktima itong si Wang at umaabot sa 100 million dollars ang nakulimbat nito sa Heilongjiang province.

Kaya nung makansela ang pasaporte nitong si Wang noong Enero 21, agad itong lumipad patungong Malaysia at nakarating sa Pilipinas noong Pebrero para takasan ang mga pulis ng China.

Pero, hindi nakalusot itong si Wang Bo. Hinuli siya ng immigration authorities dahil nalamang paso ang pasaporte nito at wanted sa China dahil sa illegal gambling at casino business.

Nang simulan ang deportation proceedings laban kay Wang Bo, nagpadala ng liham itong embahada ng Tsina.

Aprubado na noon pang Marso a-singko ang deportation order laban kay Bo Wang, 31, isang Chinese citizen matapos itong pumasok sa bansa mula sa Malaysia noong nakaraang Febrero 9. Ayon sa ulat, wanted diumano si Wang ng China’s police authority matapos itong masangkot sa isang US$100 million illegal gambling racket sa China. Kanselado rin ang pasaporteng dala-dala ni Wang nang humarap sa immigration counter.

Sa liham kalatas ni Consul at Police Attache Fu Yunfei ng Embahada ng Tsina sa Pilipinas nitong Pebrero 10, sinasabing wanted sa batas itong si Bo Wang dahil sa illegal gambling at kanselado aniya ang pasaporte nito.  Inimbestigahan si Bo ng Jiunsan Nongken Police Authority ng China dahil sa pagiging gambling lord nito. Kinansela na rin ng Chinese government ang pasaporte nito.

Kaya naman noong Marso 5, 2015, pinirmahan nina BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison, Abdullah Mangontara at Gilberto Repizo ang isang order para maipadeport ang nasabing suspek pabalik ng China upang harapin ang korte duon.

Umapela si Wang sa Board of Commissioners noong Abril 21 at dininig ang petisyon noong Abril 26. Batay sa petisyon, pinabulaanan ni Wang ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanya at nagpakita pa umano ito ng isang aprubadong CEZA visa na nagsasabing siya ay lehitimong makakapasok sa bansa.

Ngunit base sa intelligence report ng bureau, sangkot si Wang sa iligal na operasyon ng Skybet, isang gambling company na nakabase sa Maynila. Nagooperate diumano ng isang online casino itong si Wang at nakapanlansi na diumano ng mga Tsino nang halagang umabot na sa $100 million.

Nitong Mayo a-22, personal na nagtungo si Chinese consul at police attache Fu Yunfei sa Bureau of Immigration upang ipakita ang case file laban kay Wang. Pinatunayan din nitong kanselado ang pasaporte ni Wang at kailangan nitong mai-deport agad sa China.

Sa isang board meeting, pinawalang bisa nina Repizo at Mangontara ang ulat mula sa embahada ng Tsina sa isang resolusyong si Repizo mismo ang sumulat. Sa resolusyong may petsang Mayo 26, pinawalang halaga nina Repizo at Mangontara ang 5 March 2015 deportation order at pinabalik ang kanyang kanseladong pasaporte.

Tanging si BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison ang hindi pumirma sa kontrobersyal na resolusyong iniakda ni Repizo.

Mabuti na lamang at mabilis umaksyon itong sina Immigration Commissioner Fred Mison. Nang malaman ng embahada ng tsina ang nangyari, agad nitong ipinadala ang kanilang police attache na si Fu Yunfei ulit.

Pinatotohanan ni Fun Yunfei ang pagiging wanted ni Wang Bo sa China at ang pagkakakansela ng pasaporte nito. Ayon sa batas ng Pilipinas, lalo na sa Administrative Order on foreign fugitives, summary deportation ang mangyayari sa mga dayuhang walang pasaporte at wanted sa batas.

Kundi maagap itong si Commissioner Mison, malamang sa hindi, me talamak na kriminal na namang dayuhan dito sa ating bansa.

Ang tanong---ano kayang rason bakit nagbago ng isip itong si Gilberto Repizo sa kasong ito ni Wang Bo? One hundred million reasons siguro ang sumagi sa kanyang mga kamay, este, utak, kaya nasabi niyang huwag bigyang halaga ang mismong statement ng Chinese embassy laban ke Wang Bo.

One hundred million reasons siguro dahil nga itong si Repizo eh, kulang sa boto noong tumakbo itong alkalde sa Calapan Mindoro. Talo si Repizo na dati noo’y isang konsehal lang.

Hindi na rin naman kataka-takang talunan itong si Repizo dahil sa ka-haba-haba ng legal carreer nyan eh, walang naipanalo. Noong nag-abogado, pinaaasa lang ang businessman na ang kanyang mga kliyenteng sina delfin lee na kulong dahil nasangkot sa bilyon-bilyong pisong pagibig fund scam…

Ito namang si mindoro governor antonio boy umali junior, pinatawan ng parusa ng sandiganbayan dahil sa pagpapautang ng mahigit tatlong milyong piso sa isang kaibigan at yung utang eh pinababayaran sa mga mamamayan ng oriental mindoro. Aba’y sobrang kakapalan naman yan!

Kung susumahin, sino ang mas malaki ang interes na magkamal ng apat na raang milyong piso mula sa bureau of immigration?

Siguro akala ng mga tulad ni repizo eh kaya nilang gawing cash cow itong bureau of immigration.

Malaki na ang ipinagbago ng Bureau of Immigration simula't sapul na umupo sa pwesto itong si Atty. Mison. Nawala halos ang katiwalian. Nawala ang mga fixers. Naging disiplinado at tumuwid ang daan ng mga taga Immigration.

Nang umupo nitong Nobyembre itong si Repizo, aba'y pilit ibinabalik ang mga natanggal at mga nalipat nang empleyadong mayroong nagawang katiwalian.

Nakipagkita at nakipagkuntyabahan sa isang abogadong sangkot sa lagayan sa Cebu. At pilit na gumagawa ng paraan para harangan ang mga pagbabagong ipinapatupad ni BI Chief Mison.

Walang puwang sa Tuwid na Daan ang mga tulad ni Repizo Jr. na walang nasasa isipan kundi ang pansariling kapakanan.

May kalalagyan ang mga tiwali, at yan ay sa basura ng kasaysayan!!

Dapat imbestigahan at tsugiin ni Pangulong Aquino itong mga tulad ni repizo na dumudungis sa magandang pangalan ng bureau NGAYON NA!

On the Right to Travel and the Hypocrisy of so-called democracy fighters online

Fact no.1---Every year, thousands of Filipinos, wittingly or unwittingly, become victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment. Government spends millions helping these people. The United States anti-trafficking report categorizes the Philippines at tier 1, the highest state we are in five years ago.

Fact no. 2---due to the efforts of the government, specifically the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in persons, more than 50,000 Filipinos were prevented from becoming victims of this vicious and highly lucrative human trafficking trade. This is due and in part to efforts made by the government, specifically the Bureau of Immigration in suspending the travel of some Filipinos who failed to present satisfactory travel documents. Based on Immigration data, only less than 1% of Filipino tourists or those who left the country as workers, were asked to suspend their departures pending presentation of sufficient travel documents.

Consequences no. 1---Because of the stringent application of IACAT guidelines on departure formalities by the Bureau of Immigration, the status of the Philippines in human trafficking improved from tier 1 to tier 2, only within a span of ten months.

The consequence against human trafficking groups is substantial. These human traffickers lost considerable income from the honest implementation of the law by the Bureau of Immigration. If ever there is but one legacy that President Benigno S. Aquino III can call his own, it is THIS. Thousands of lives were saved. Thousands more are expected to benefit from these guidelines.

Consequences no. 2---so-called "liberals" and online "democracy fighters" attack the Bureau of Immigration especially its chief, Siegfred Mison, for allegedly violating the right to travel by Filipinos. They say that these guidelines are violative of the constitutional right to travel.

I don't know if they are just ignorant of the law or they are acting or playing dumb.

The right to travel is a universal right. As one of the fundamental rights, it cannot be impaired. The only question is--is the right to travel absolute, like the right to life?

Obviously not.

Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution, specifically section 6 clearly states that the right to travel can be impaired through the passage of a law which clearly states that the impairment is in pursuit of national security, public safety and public health.

Former Senator Loi Ejercito Estrada in her Senate bill no. 174 even recognizes that the right of travel has certain "exceptions". Note in her Senate bill that this right to travel "can only be restricted upon a clear showing of reasonable and compelling reasons that the proposed travel is plainly harmful conduct to national security, public safety and public health." see this link.

The Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act of 2003 or Republic Act 9208, specifically Section 16, sub-section f, mandates the Bureau of Immigration to: "Bureau of Immigration (BI) - shall strictly administer and enforce immigration and alien administration laws. It shall adopt measures for the apprehension of suspected traffickers both at the place of arrival and departure and shall ensure compliance by the Filipino fiancés/fiancées and spouses of foreign nationals with the guidance and counseling requirement as provided for in this Act."

The law is clear---"strictly administer and enforce immigration and alien administration laws." That is the mandate of the BI.

Now, in that law also, specifically Section 21, there is a requirement for the establishment of an Inter-Agency Council whose task is to implement the following:

(a) Formulate a comprehensive and integrated program to prevent and suppress the trafficking in persons;

(b) Promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act;

(c) Monitor and oversee the strict implementation of this Act;

(d) Coordinate the programs and projects of the various member agencies to effectively address the issues and problems attendant to trafficking in persons;

(e) Coordinate the conduct of massive information dissemination and campaign on the existence of the law and the various issues and problems attendant to trafficking through the LGUs, concerned agencies, and NGOs;

(f) Direct other agencies to immediately respond to the problems brought to their attention and report to the Council on action taken;

(g) Assist in filing of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions or establishments that violate the provisions of this Act;

(h) Formulate a program for the reintegration of trafficked persons in cooperation with DOLE, DSWD, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), LGUs and NGOs;

(i) Secure from any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government or from NGOs and other civic organizations such assistance as may be needed to effectively implement this Act;

(j) Complement the shared government information system for migration established under Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995" with data on cases of trafficking in persons, and ensure that the proper agencies conduct a continuing research and study on the patterns and scheme of trafficking in persons which shall form the basis for policy formulation and program direction;

(k) Develop the mechanism to ensure the timely, coordinated, and effective response to cases of trafficking in persons;

(l) Recommend measures to enhance cooperative efforts and mutual assistance among foreign countries through bilateral and/or multilateral arrangements to prevent and suppress international trafficking in persons;

(m) Coordinate with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other NGOs in monitoring the promotion of advertisement of trafficking in the internet;

(n) Adopt measures and policies to protect the rights and needs of trafficked persons who are foreign nationals in the Philippines;

(o) Initiate training programs in identifying and providing the necessary intervention or assistance to trafficked persons; and

(p) Exercise all the powers and perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes and objectives of this Act.

On the Hypocrisy of so-called democracy fighters online

Why do you hit the Bureau of Immigration when it is just implementing the law? Is'nt strange that you are fighting for the supremacy of the right to travel when some of you were totally indignant when former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was asking err, petitioning for her to leave for abroad for medical purposes?

These so-called pseudo democrats are raising a howl when it is clear that the right to travel has not been violated but rather the guidelines as provided for by law dictates the very act of the Immigration personnel.

When human trafficking was a problem, these pseudo-democrats attack the Bureau for not doing anything to address the problem, when in fact, it is just one of about nine agencies responsible for curbing the problem of human smuggling and trafficking.

Now, when the bureau just does its job of implementing the rules strictly according to the construction of Congress, these nincoompoops again complain, saying that the Bureau is employing gestapo measures.

I hope these stupid fellas are not being used by human trafficking groups themselves to bolster their case and pressure the Bureau of Immigration to relent on their case. Surely these self-proclaiming bastards do not really understand democracy. They probably think that democracy is plain and simple anarchy where everyone can do almost everything he pleases provided he does not harm anyone in the process. Wrong and stupid.

Siegfred Mison--Support the Public Servant of the Bureau of Immigration

Siegfred Mison, Public Servant of the People

Ask anybody and surely that person will tell you how desirous he is in seeing change happen in this generation. Every Filipino wants nothing more than a better public service. Government service has not changed since the very day this Republic was founded.

My readers know how I regard the sloppy service this administration and its predecessors have dished out for us, honest taxpayers. Just look at the very landscape. We have roads that go nowhere and filled with potholes. Go to any government agency and the reason why we often want to go someplace else to work or live is the way these agencies treat us, ordinary citizens. We have the highest tax being deprived from us, but the worse service being given by government.

I had doubts when some Patriots were promoted to high positions in two agencies of government. I refer to the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Customs. However, eight months later, and I am beginning to believe that change, indeed, is possible in my generation.

INspite of a myriad of problems, Mison remains
with a smile on his face

Atty. Siegfred Mison, the commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration is one guy that makes me continually inspired to work for government. Ever since he assumed his post last year, the Bureau which even the President himself described as corrupt, is now visibly changed. And the change is really evident and for the better.

Ask around and everyone who knows what is happening at the Bureau of Immigration will tell you straight forward that Mison's administration led to the weakening and eradication of fixers in the bureau. Mison made everything automated and easy at the immigration that foreigners do not need fixers to process their papers.

Those who want to prolong their stay here in the Philippines, were given the best treatment. Those who want to visit interesting places here in our country were given ways on how to further their stay here. Those who legitimately want to do business in the country were given opportunities to arrange their documents without extra expense.

Imagine, the bureau was able to collect 3 billion pesos of revenues. That is a feat.

Ask around and you'll find that Mison introduces himself as a Public Servant. This guy has never been corrupted, oh no. He does not go around town bragging about his post. He remains humble, the same guy that worked very hard to finish law school and serve the Republic as an honest soldier.

My friend, an Ambassador, was impressed when he met Mison. This guy distinguishes himself from the rest. There is no air in him and the Ambassador was more than impressed when he received Mison's business card and it says there "Siegfred Mison, Public Servant". No post there. No inkling that the person giving you that business card happens to be the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.

Now, I learned that those who lost considerable income fooling foreigners, and even escorting fellow Filipinos to their unfortunate fate as victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment have bonded together to destroy Mison.

These evil people want nothing more than see Mison out of immigration because they lost considerable income, millions in fact, when Mison totally fought out fixers at the immigration.

When Mison, along with most Patriotic elements at the Bureau of Immigration, made changes especially at the NAIA terminals, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos were saved from the clutches of human trafficking groups and illegal recruiters.

Thousands of foreigners were likewise saved from fixers when the bureau itself assisted them in improving their stay status here in the Philippines. There is no more to fix because the bureau itself encouraged foreigners to easily apply for changes in their status.

For as long as you don't violate the laws of the Republic, you are free to stay for as long as you want.

Evil people abound. And because they do not have any shred of evidence that would link Mison to graft and corruption, they are now frantic and trying to accuse him of alleged human rights violations.

Bull. Crap. They cannot put a good man down. No, no, no!

Let me remind these evil people---your days are numbered!

To those people who lost considerable income due to their evil ways, now is the time to change!

Do not use foreigners, especially fugitives, rapists, thieves, and pedophiles who now languish in our jails because they were arrested by the bureau.

These foreigners are being used by evil people to cast aspersions against Mison,trying to picture him as a human rights violator.

Mison is an honest servant of the People and a firm believer of the law. The law maybe harsh, but that is the law. He does not see the law with blinders. Whatever the law say, Mison obeys.

By the way, please support my petition in support of Atty. Siegfred Mison. This is the simplest way we can express our thanks and appreciation to the patriotism of Mison and the rest of the Bureau of immigration. see this link: petisyon.

Pnoy has awakened from his stupor and the refugees along Roxas Boulevard

There are exciting things happening right now that, unfortunately, I am not at liberty at disclosing all. What is certain is that this president is dead serious in reforming the system. When I realized that certain persons are being given nation-building tasks, I told myself that there is still hope, somewhat.

What our people need is something new, something that will give us, hope. What happened in Leyte will have a catastrophic effect in the entire country very soon, as peoples from Manila and the rest of the country have relatives who died or affected by this natural disaster.

Try to drive along Roxas boulevard and you"ll find numerous tents set up by refugees from Leyte. Ask around and you"ll know that these people were victims of Typhoon Haiyan. They were so traumatized that they followed their instinct and decided to leave their hometowns. They don't have relatives here.

The entire country is still in a state of disbelief. Most want to leave our country. I know of some who want to migrate and live in another country.

President Aquino should put his act together and at least bring a message or sign of hope for all of us.  What things Pnoy should do for the next few weeks that would bring hope for all of us:

1. Call for a Cabinet reshuffling. I don't know what prevents this President from doing this. Hey, there are a lot of controversies already happening in his cabinet that it is time to convince some to retire.  What is so wrong with asking some people to leave his cabinet, especially if these people prevent him from doing the right thing?

2. Ask GOCC officials to tender their resignations. Hey, the head of the mwss, this Esquivel, is reportedly very close and "very influential" to the president, he, being a bosom buddy of the President. Yet, he is actually causing so much trouble at the MWSS and his actions even threaten the condition of the metro's water distribution system. Esquivel is a contractor. He got his wealth by dubious means, according to some people.

3. Continue appointing new blood in the bureaucracy. We need fresh minds to tend to the old problems of the bureaucracy. When Pnoy appointed Fred Mison at the Bureau of Immigration, changes immediately happened there. Revenues were even exceeded.

I just got word that those whom he appointed at the Bureau of Customs are all honest men, especially, Ariel Nepomuceno, the deputy Commish of the Bureau's enforcement unit. We need more of these people, and less of the Esquivel kind.

Pnoy's fight against graft is getting stronger and bearing fruit

Contrary to popular perception, the fight against graft and corruption is actually gaining ground, thanks to the tireless efforts of these men and women who now serve the Aquino administration. 

For one, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) thru the leadership of Commissioner David has managed to lessen the incidence of graft in the bureau by rotating their personnel and keeping in the freezer or filing cases against erring personnel. David, a military man, has already kept in check, numerous cases of graft in the bureau.

The Immigration bureau also successfully conducted entrance examinations meant to hire new blood for the bureau. Years ago, when the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) decided to put a stop on graft, they hired new blood and re-organized themselves. Now, the BIR is now one of the agencies with less graft and corruption cases. Fact is, in the graft and corruption fight, the BIR right now is the model to emulate. 

The DOTC or the Department of Transportation and Communication is now a very highly organized and highly efficient organisation, thanks to the efforts of Mar Roxas, Jeary Sison and the bunch of undersecretaries who now put in check the previous graft practices of people there. 

The only blight spot in the DOTC is the Land Transportation Office (LTO) whose personnel continues to do their graft-y ways. 

There are still some form of graft at the Department of Agriculture, yet, compared with the previous dispensation, operators there are now afraid of entering into multi-million deals. 

Other agencies who have turned a new leaf is the Department of Energy, the Tesda, the POEA and the OWWA. Yes, procedures at the POEA and the OWWA remain underpar, but they are in the right direction.

I highly commend the men and women of the Social Security System or SSS, the GSIS or the Government Service Insurance System and the Department of Foreign Affairs passport division for improving their services. Yes, the long lines are still there at peak hours, yet, they are manage-able. I just applied for an SSS ID and it only took me about ten minutes to get one. Kudos to the patriotic men and women of the SSS!

I will restrain my praise to the Bureau of Customs. Some say I criticize the bureau because of personal interests. What? I am a private citizen with no business whatsoever at the bureau. The information I get come from Patriots working inside the bureau of Customs. They are the ones who tell me about what's happening there. And I write about it--without adding anything, even an opinion. 

Danny Lim, Alex Lacson and Siegfried Mison: Being Part of the Solution

Three of my well-meaning friends always say this--Be part of the solution. I heard it from General Danny Lim, Siegfried Mison who is now deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and my dear kuya Alex Lacson. 


This sounds extremely comforting  to know that there are still so many of these kinds of people who prescribe these kinds of solutions. NPR subscribes to this, and pursues this with vigor.


In my own way, I help other people solve their problems. A year ago, we launched a Skills Up program with my dear friend, Susan Toots Ople. We gave scholarships to numerous OFWs who were victimized by illegal recruiters and those treated harshly by their employers. Twenty of these OFWs are living comfortably right now, and one even was hired by a Japanese restaurant to become their assistant restaurant manager! Wow, from domestic helper to restaurant manager, that is a great leap!


Yes, we all have our duties and responsibilities to God, Country and Family. However, while we  do our share in nation-building, I observed, that problems sprout like Hydra and it multiplies itself while people do these little steps towards nation-building.


The system itself is the problem. Since we are doing things in the periphery and not addressing the basic and fundamental problems of society, we leave it to other groups the responsibility of correcting or at the least managing a dysfunctional system. 


Wrong. 


To be part of the solution, we need to unite and address the very core problem of our time and that is, systemic re-engineering.


Ignoring this fact would just put all our individual efforts to naught. 

NBI agents involved in KFR of Japanese

This has got to stop. Paging President Noynoy Aquino. I am reposting here the story written by my friend, Ramon Tulfo. This is about an alleged extortion activity by several National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents. 


Several of my media colleagues have complained that the NBI has not been issuing statements for a long time. The NBI, in the past, has been reporting their accomplishments. 


Now, we know the reason---they are not doing legal things--several of their men are into illegal, syndicated criminal activities. This has got to stop.


To my friends over there at the palace, this is one thing that you need to really look very seriously because this is a blot to the current efforts of the government against graft and corruption.

ON TARGET

NBI agents in kidnap-for-ransom case?

By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

10:41 pm | Friday, December 2nd, 2011

 9share148 132

A Japanese woman, Noriyo Ohara, is allegedly being held at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), a virtual kidnap-for-ransom victim.

Several NBI agents are reportedly holding Ohara, 32, until her foster Filipino family comes up with the remaining P9 million ransom.

The agents are reportedly asking for P15 million.  Ohara’s foster family has, so far, raised P6 million.

Initially, the ransom demand was P100 million, but the NBI agents who took Ohara agreed to P15 million after negotiations with the Japanese woman’s foster family.

Incredible story? Read on.

Ohara is an undocumented alien, meaning she’s not listed in the Bureau of Immigration as a tourist or resident alien.

She came to the Philippines in 2009 and didn’t pass through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport immigration counter.

Picked up planeside by an immigration employee, she was whisked away to the Las Piñas house of her foster family.

But why did Ohara come to the country in a cloak-and-dagger manner?

According to accounts I gathered from her foster family, Ohara came to Manila because the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia, wanted to kill her. The gang had killed her father earlier.

Ohara’s Filipino friend working in Japan contacted an immigration employee who assured them that she would not pass through the immigration desk upon her arrival in Manila.

For a while, Ohara, through her foster family, gave a monthly stipend to the immigration employee.

But the monthly stipend stopped when the immigration employee retired.

Angered by the move, the retiree reported Ohara to some agents at the NBI.

On Oct. 28, 2011, NBI agents in four vans and two cars arrested Ohara in Bugallon, Pangasinan province.

By this time, Ohara had assumed the identity of Marife Marzan, after her foster family’s last name.

NBI agents told the Marzan family they were taking custody of Ohara, a.k.a. Marife Marzan, for being an undocumented alien.

Arresting undocumented aliens is not the job of the NBI but of the Bureau of Immigration.

The agents brought Ohara to the NBI headquarters on Taft Avenue in Manila and detained her at the Security Management Division (SMD).

They told the Marzans that Ohara would be released only if they can come up with P100 million.

They dropped their demand to P15 million later.

Members of the Marzan clan—Glenda Marzan, Cristina Vinluan and Johnny Perez—delivered P6 million in installments to the NBI headquarters.

The first tranche, P1 million, was allegedly received by Jose Odellon Cabillan, SMD’s executive officer, and a certain Chona.

The amount was allegedly handed over in the presence of Mario Garcia, the SMD chief, and a certain Labsky.

On Nov. 2, 2011, Cabillan allegedly received from the Marzans P4 million inside the SMD chief’s office.

On Nov. 9, 2011, the Marzans again handed P1 million to Cabillan and Chona.

One of the Marzans asked if the NBI agents would release Ohara after completing the P9 million ransom payment.

Garcia reportedly told the Marzans they would have to sell the house and BMW car that Ohara owns, and the proceeds to be given to the NBI agents.

“Marami pang pogi sa itaas ang dapat nating ayusin (There are many handsome guys upstairs who should be taken care of),” Garcia was quoted as saying.

Garcia was apparently referring to the NBI’s big bosses who had to be given a share of the pie.

Desperate, the Marzans came to me.

I then told the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) office in Camp Crame about their plight.

As this column was being written Friday, I made an appointment with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima later in the afternoon to check on the veracity of the report of nefarious activities perpetrated by some of her subordinates at the NBI.