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Friday, October 28, 2005
Commissioner authorized to clean up immigration bureau
JUSTICE Secretary Raul M. Gonzales affirmed this week the mandate of Associate Commissioner Franklin Z. Littaua of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to enforce orders earlier given by the Department of Justice to implement reforms in the BI, including investigation of anomalies.
In a brief department order numbered 597 last October 25, Gonzales said "in the exigency of the service and pursuant to the provisions of laws, it is hereby
affirmed that Associate Commissioner Franklin Z. Littaua of the Bureau of Immigration has the mandate to enforce the orders given to him by this department specifically to carry out the provisions in Department Orders 467 and 489 dated October 29, 2004 and November 8,2004, respectively."
This developed as Benjamin Lao, alien control officer of the BI Davao field office, was quoted by newsmen as having reportedly welcomed any investigation into the alleged irregularities at the Davao City Fish Port Complex.
Lao reacted to a memorandum of Assistant Commissioner Littaua recommending to Commissioner Alipio Fernandez an investigation into allegations of anomalies in the fishport.
Littaua made the move on the basis on a letter received by him last October 19 from Eleonor Madroņo-Quilaneta, officer-in-charge of the BI Bay and Fish Port Services.
In that letter, Quilaneta complained that Lao continued to receive remittances for overtime services at the fishport from Immigration officer Proceso Gido despite a memorandum she allegedly sent Lao that Immigration officer Saidamen Taha was the authorized employee to serve billing and collect payments.
Lao, however, retorted that Quilaneta can not issue a memo to him since she is just a subordinate.
Secretary Gonzales' October 25 department order rejected a published claim of Lao that Littaua has been dismissed from his position, a source close to the assistant commissioner told this writer.
The latest order of Gonzales further directs all concerned BI officials and employees to "coordinate and support the mission" of Littaua.
Earlier last year, in Department Order 467 (dated Ocobter 29, 2004), Gonzales designated Littaua to "supervise the overall operations of the Bureau of Immigration relative to the monitoring of foreign nationals involved in human trafficking, terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling, salting of foreign exchange, illegal entry and other related illegal activities of aliens, as well as the registration of undocumented foreign nationals and to sign orders in relation to applications for student visa and special study permit, effective immediately."
Littaua, who shuttles from Manila to Davao, conferred with Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte last Sunday and with Majority Leader Prospero C. Nograles midweek and received encouragement on his work in Mindanao, specially his role in the fight against terrorism. (AMA)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 28, 2005 issue)
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