Remulla open to removal of BI from DOJ

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday said he is open to the removal of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) from the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Asked on his thoughts regarding the possible removal of BI from DOJ during an interview at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Remulla said he “doesn’t mind.”

“Tandaan natin sa ibang bansa kasi ang Immigration actually department talaga ‘yan, sa ibang bansa. In fact, in several countries right now… the highest paid government officials are in Immigration. Ngayon, sa Pilipinas, ang baba ng salary grade natin sa BI. That’s why we have to modernize and upgrade para ‘yung international standard maabot natin,” he said.

(Remember that in other countries, Immigration is a department. In fact, in several countries right now… the highest paid government officials are in Immigration. Now, in the Philippines, the salary grade in BI is very low. That’s why we have to modernize and upgrade it.)

Despite this, he said separating the two agencies would be difficult because of the “intimate relationship” between immigration and the law.

According to Remulla, the current immigration law is “very obsolete” as it was written and passed in 1939 “when airplanes were not yet the common form of transportation.”

“Hopefully, we can have something done to strengthen the Immigration Department. ‘Yan po ang isa kasi that’s the point of entry of all of these criminals who prey on children kaya kinakailangan talaga kailangan maayos din natin ang immigration law,” he said.

(Hopefully, we can do something to strengthen the Immigration Department. That’s one of the points of entry of all these criminals who prey on children, so that’s why we need to fix the immigration law.]

Remulla also urged the BI to clamp down on individuals involved in the exploitation of children.

On Tuesday, Remulla said the administration will not hesitate to “charge” and “prosecute” all individuals who are directly and indirectly participating in child exploitation.

He also said they would move to include the Department of Education in the war against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

“That’s the advancement taken, we will involve the Vice President, or Secretary of Education, next time. We will ask for her help also and assistance in dealing with this problem,” he said.

Remulla also reiterated his appeal for internet service providers and telecommunication companies to put filters in their systems.

“Sabi nga namin kahapon, kapag hindi nag-cooperate ang ISPs at nakalusot palagi… we will also include them in the people that will be charged for online sexual exploitation,” he said.

(We said yesterday that if they don’t cooperate and many still get past them… we will also include them in the people that will be charged for online sexual exploitation.)

A hotline on this would be launched “very soon,” said Remulla.  —KBK, GMA News