Immigration deputy chief accused of lawyering for Chinese fugitive

A ranking official of the Liberal Party on Tuesday accused a top official of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) of lawyering for a suspected Chinese drug lord and syndicate leader.

At the hearing of the House committee on good governance and public accountability, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas berated BI Deputy Commissioner Gilbert Repizo over his decision to approve the release of detained Chinese national Wang Bo and his subsequent removal from the government’s watch list.

 

Treñas chair of the Liberal Party's organizing and membership committee, said he could not understand why Repizo wanted authenticated documents from China on Wang’s supposed criminal activities even if existing rulings do not indicate such a requirement. Wang requested not be to released to Chinese officials. 

 

“I can’t understand why BI commissioners are fighting for the rights of a Chinese national whose passport was cancelled,” he said, addressing Repizo.

 

“Why is it that the BI commissioner is allowed to fight for his own rules of evidence, disregarding rules of procedure, rulings and orders issued before?” he asked.

 

The lawmaker’s ire grew after Repizo tried to cut him off to respond to his question.

 

“Do you not know where you are? You are at the House of Representatives!” bellowed Treñas.

 

But in response, the immigration official said he requested for authenticated documents because there was evidence that Wang had been staying in the country since 2008, and had a valid permit to work at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority until 2015.

 

He said this was the reason why he did not deem acceptable the correspondence from the Chinese Embassy stating that Wang is a fugitive whose passport had been cancelled.

 

“I cannot accept photocopied documents. While the letter was an original copy, all the documents attached to it are photocopies,” Repizo said.

 

Wanted fugitive

 

Wang is wanted in China for allegedly embezzling $100 million. He escaped to the Philippines but was arrested last February.

 

Following the BI’s issuance of a deportation order last March, Wang’s camp moved to block the deportation order, and he was eventually taken off the Philippine government's blacklist.

 

The Chinese government then cancelled Wang’s passport and submitted additional documents to the BI to prove he is a fugitive.

 

BI Commisioner Siegfred Mison voted in favor of the Chinese Embassy's renewed request to deport the Chinese, but he was outvoted by Repizo and his colleague, Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Mangotara, who wanted Wang released.
 

Their move, however, was blocked by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who said Wang should remain in detention.

 

The House is investigating Wang’s aborted detention because of reports that he gave a P100 million bribe to BI officials for his release.

 

His camp reportedly also shelled out $100 million for Malacañang to bribe lawmakers for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

 

LP members?

 

At the hearing, Repizo and Mangotara denied the LP was linked to the alleged pay-off from Wang’s camp even if the latter admitted he was a member of the ruling party.

 

Mangotara served as congressman of Lanao del Norte from 1995 to 2001.

 

“I’ve never met any member of the House of Representatives or the House leadership to make any indecent proposal. I still maintain the dignity and reputation of the House,” he said.

 

For his part, Repizo confirmed he was a lawyer of LP Treasurer and Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali but denied any involvement in the alleged BBL “payola” controversy.

 

Even House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., LP’s vice chair, laughed off rumors that the ruling party used the BI commissioners to obtain grease money from Wang.

 

“[That allegation] doesn’t mean a thing. I didn’t even know if [Repizo and Mangotara are members] of LP and I don’t care if they are,” he said. - JJ, GMA News