DOJ creates task force to probe visa issuance to fake firms

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a task force to investigate Immigration lawyers who may be connected to the issuance of pre-arranged employment (9G) visas to fake corporations, an official said Friday.

A 9G visa is required for foreign nationals to work in the country.

”We will have to be patient with the independent investigation by DOJ, together with the NBI, para malaman talaga natin kung ano talaga— gaano kalalim itong problema na ito,” Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a media briefing.

(We will have to be patient with the independent investigation of the DOJ, together with the NBI, so we can find the root cause of this problem.)

Last week, the Bureau of Immigration announced that four lawyers who were allegedly involved in the scheme have been relieved from post.

According to Clavano, the DOJ seeks to investigate the last five years of their operation.

“And then given kung ano yung makita natin doon, baka mag-extend pa 'yan para makita talaga natin kung gaano katagal na itong operation na nangyayari,” Clavano said.

(And then based on what we find there, we may extend this so we can see how long this operation has been going on.)

Meanwhile, Clavano said the DOJ is also investigating the situation of Lin Jyun-Ze, a Taiwanese national who was found with a 9G visa. 

Lin was arrested with his companion Yuan Bo-Chun, a Taiwanese fugitive.

Clavano said that during the arrest, authorities found operations on online scamming, gambling, illegal drugs, sim cards, firearms and IDs. 

“Pinapa-investigate na po ng DOJ kung paano nila nakuha itong mga IDs na ito at kung ano 'yung rason bakit iba iba po 'yung mga pangalan dito at kung bakit kailangan niya ng iba-ibang government IDs,” he said.

(The DOJ has also ordered the investigation on how the IDs were obtained and why they are under different names and why he needs them.)

The Justice spokesperson said they are also looking into what charges may be filed against the two.

“We’re looking into a larger picture here. Although we’ve already seen several instances na ginagamit talaga 'yung fake IDs nila,” he said.

“This will probably go into finding out kung sino talaga ang mga nasa likod ng mga sindikato. Kasi alam naman natin na itong mga ito, hindi nila magagawa ito kung wala silang backer,” Clavano added.

(This will probably go into finding out who is really behind this syndicate. Because we know that these things cannot happen without a backer.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News