Geron named new Immigration commissioner

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Ronaldo A. Geron as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, replacing Siegfred Mison whose tenure was marred by controversies.

In a text message to reporters, Department of Justice Undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas said Geron took his oath of office on Wednesday.

In a statement sent to Palace reporters on Thursday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. confirmed Geron’s appointment effective January 6, Wednesday.

Mison was named Immigration chief in December 2013, replacing Ricardo David Jr.

Geron background

According to Coloma, Geron was the deputy executive secretary for finance and administration of the Office of the President since 2010.

He has been in public service for over 20 years, including stints as provincial administrator of Batangas and member of the provincial board.

The new BI commissioner graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1987.  

Controversies

The announcement of Mison's ouster from the Bureau of Immigration came following reports that he and other Immigration officials have been relieved over allegations of corruption.

There have been reports that Mison, his deputy Gilbert Repizo and a third Immigration official were being dismissed for allegedly accepting bribes from foreigners.

The report mentioned the National Bureau of Investigation's probe on Mison after the escape of a Korean, who is an alleged extortionist.

Early this week, Repizo said he serves at the pleasure of the President but denied that he has been dismissed from the Immigration Bureau.

In June last year, Immigration officials faced a congressional inquiry over allegations that they received P100 million in exchange for the signing of the release papers of Chinese fugitive Wang Bo.

Mison has since denied the allegation.  — with Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/BAP/RSJ/KBK, GMA News