BI facility under heightened alert; fugitives, immigration violators separated

The Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa was on heightened alert, with foreign fugitives now separated from other immigration violators, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Monday.

Interviewed at a public briefing, Sandoval said Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco tasked the new chief of its warden facility to make the necessary adjustments after the former BI facility head and some personnel were relieved from their posts.

Last January 30, unauthorized items like high-end cellphones and gadgets, undeclared money, sharp objects, and construction materials were seized at the BI facility.

“‘Yung bagong hepe ng ating warden facility ay in-instructionan ni Commissioner Tansingco to implement a heightened alert at ngayon pinaghihiwalay ‘yung lugar kung saan inilalagak ang mga fugitives at those with other immigration violations,” Sandoval said.

(Commissioner Tansingco instructed the new chief of our warden facility to be on heightened alert. And now, the area with jailed fugitives was separated from areas with other immigration violators.)

She added that the Department of Justice would be sanctioning erring employees found involved in the illegal activities of Japanese fugitives who were accused of criminal activities in Japan.

“Kung makikita na may mga empleyado na naging remiss sa kanilang duty, sa kanilang responsibilidad sa facility na iyon, ay definitely they will be facing sanctions,” Sandoval said.

(If it was found that there were employees who have been remiss in their duty or in their responsibility in that facility, they will be facing sanctions.)

The Japanese government earlier asked the Philippine government to deport four of its citizens suspected of directing a series of robberies in their home country even while detained in the Philippines.

While two of these Japanese fugitives would be deported on Tuesday, the Justice Department was still looking to deport all four. — DVM, GMA Integrated News