TOP officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied Tuesday the allegations that lawmakers and Malacanang officials received bribe money to stop the deportation of a Chinese national wanted in his country for allegedly embezzling $100 million.
During an inquiry at the House of Representatives, Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison denied a newspaper report about the P100-million bribe money given by Chinese fugitive Wang Bo, who is facing deportation proceedings, to the BI officials.
"This matter is a straightforward summary deportation case about a suspected Chinese fugitive that got complicated when the board disagreed on the final disposition of the case," said Mison.
Wang allegedly coughed up another $10 million to secure the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the House.
Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Mangotara described the newspaper report as mere propaganda from people who want to destroy the integrity of the agency.
On March 5, the BI ordered the deportation of Wang upon the request of Chinese Embassy in Manila. However, following the appeal of Wang, Mison was outvoted by Deputy Commissioners Mangotara and Gilbert Repizo last March 21 on whether or not to release the Chinese national from custody as the two argued that the agency should be stricter with the documentary requirement in deporting a foreign national.
Repizo explained that he decided to grant temporary liberty to Wang because of the Chinese police's failure to provide authenticated of his criminal activities in Beijing.
"The BI board's resolution isn't about protecting an alleged fugitive but according a person a chance to be scrutinized and validated within our discretion," said Repizo.
He explained that the agency has the right to demand and validate the documents that have been submitted to the agency.
On May 26, Mison made a draft resolution to overturn again its May 21 order after the Chinese Embassy said Wang allegedly violated not only the laws in the country, but also in China but the order was not implemented after Repizo and Mangotara refused and argued that authorities from China failed to present authenticated copies of documents.
"If we dismiss visa applications on the ground that the applicant failed to submit authenticated documents, shouldn’t we uphold the same standard for deportation proceedings," Repizo said.
Chinese authorities, which had cancelled Wang's passport, are demanding for the extradition of Wang for allegedly for a $100 million case of embezzlement.
The inquiry by the House committee on governance and public accountability was based on a resolution filed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., House Majority Floor Leader and Neptali Gonzales II, and House Minority Floor Leader Ronaldo Zamora to investigate the allegations of P100-bribe in the BI.
Meanwhile, lawmakers took a swipe on the BI officials at the hearing due to their "flip-flopping" and inordinate delay in the implementation of a deportation order against Wang.
Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said, "The flip-flopping [on the deportation] adds credence to the alleged bribery charges."
Romualdez said that the undue delay in deporting Wang is giving credibility to allegations of bribery for his release.
"It's confusing, you (BI) want to exclude (Wang), you want to deport, and you want to release," said Romualdez.
Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. echoed Romualdez, saying the delay in the deportation process raises doubts.
"Bakit masyadong matagal ang pagde-deport? At most 15 days lang ang motion for reconsideration, pero dito forty days. They (commissioners) have to explain further why Wang Bo was not deported immediately," said Barzaga. (Sunnex)