BI: Canadian’s deport order held back by pending cases

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) had ordered Canadian John Pope deported last October but the directive could not be enforced because he was facing several cases in court.

The BI classified Pope as an overstaying tourist and an undesirable alien due to cases filed against him.

The Canadian national was given a tourist visa after his retirement visa was canceled by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).

The PRA 7 Officer-in-Charge Elma Corbeta yesterday said Pope was issued an investor’s retirement visa when he deposited US$20,000 to buy a condominium unit in Cebu.

Investment

Corbeta said that under the PRA law, a foreigner can be issued a retirement visa if he invested at least US$20,000 in the Philippines.

The title of the condominium unit that Pope bought contained the annotation pertaining
to the Canadian’s retirement visa. This annotation was canceled when Pope sold the property.

Casimiro Madarang III, BI Cebu alien control officer, said that since the retirement visa was canceled, Pope’s status was downgraded by BI Central Office in Manila to that of a tourist.

But the Board of Commissioners, headed by Commissioner Domingo David, issued a summary deportation order against Pope last December because of the cases filed against the Canadian.

Cases

The deportation was not implemented because under the amended Philippine Immigration Act, a foreigner cannot be deported if he has a pending case in court.

Pope had also appealed his deportation.

“Pope was already recorded in the blacklist. Once deported, he cannot come back to the country,” Madarang said.

Madarang said Pope got mad at BI Cebu after he was referred to the BI Central Office when he applied for the extension of his tourist visa.

He said Pope filed a complaint against them with the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman but the case did not prosper after they presented documents to refute the Canadian’s allegations.