JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima said she will review the resolution dismissing human trafficking and illegal recruitment charges against 15 immigration officials at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga.
Speaking to reporters, De Lima said she has directed concerned state prosecutors to submit to her office the records of the human trafficking case against the immigration personnel.
De Lima said that as justice secretary she has the prerogative to review resolutions issued by his predecessor especially if there is a request from any of the parties involved.
However, any reversal or reopening of cases or investigations must be done in accordance with the rules, and will have to be on a case-to-case basis, she added.
It was the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, headed by workers’ rights advocate Susan Ople, asked De Lima to review and eventually reverse Agra’s so-called “midnight decision.” The group claimed Agra issued the assailed resolution on June 28, or two days before he officially stepped down from the DOJ.
The 15 immigration personnel were charged before the justice department after they were implicated by their colleague, immigration agent Racel Ong, in human trafficking activities in the airport.
Ong confessed about the illegal activities after she was identified by two trafficked victims as the immigration officer who helped them passed through airport security to be able to get out of the country to Malaysia.
She also identified other immigration personnel involved in the so-called escort system in the airport.(JCV/Sunnex)