Immigration imposes one strike policy in anti-corruption efforts

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday said it will implement a one-strike policy against its erring personnel as it steps up its anti-corruption campaign.

Under the policy, personnel who are the subject of complaints and investigations will be relieved from their posts "immediately," the BI said in a statement.

This means they will be assigned to the bureau's administrative division or back offices and will not be given "sensitive posts" while their cases are pending, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

Those relieved will not be entitled to augmentation pay, she said.

BI officials are under investigation over the "pastillas scheme," in which Chinese nationals were allegedly allowed to enter the country without going through the proper immigration process in exchange for bribes. Some officers already face criminal complaints.

On Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation filed a new complaint against 86 personalities

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he has ordered the BI's reconstituted Board of Discipline (BOD) to "carefully assess complaints and reports against erring personnel" and to recommend to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the filing of administrative cases if they have merit.

Since 2016, 131 immigration personnel have been suspended, dismissed, and dropped from the rolls for various offenses, the BI said.

"We do not tolerate corruption amongst our ranks," Morente said, adding that they have strengthened its discipline board to focus on "cleaning up" the bureau.

The BOD is now headed by lawyer Ronaldo Ledesma, formerly the BI's OIC commissioner and OIC deputy commissioner. Five more lawyers have been added to the board, the BI said.

Morente also lamented the BI's lack of disciplinary powers over its own personnel under the Philippines' immigration law. He said the BI is only merely recommendatory to the DOJ.

"If administrative control was to be given to the BI, if we find someone involved in improper activities in the morning, we can immediately implement a suspension in the afternoon,” he said.

The BI chief also urged the public to report any illegal activities to the BI's hotline +632 86452400 or via its Facebook page. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News