BI to check if other personnel possibly involved in visa issuance to fake firms

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday it would also look into the possibility of their other personnel also being involved in the issuance of pre-arranged employment (9G) visas to fake corporations.

This, as four immigration lawyers linked in the issuance of 9G visas—a requirement for foreign nationals to work in the country—to fake companies have been relieved from their duties and are now undergoing an investigation.

“Itong apat na ito na abogado ang recurring na mga nag-proseso nu'ng mga applications na 'yun. Kaya ang focus natin initially is with these lawyers,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(These four lawyers were the recurring ones who processed those visa applications. So our focus initially was with these lawyers.)

“But maybe the list may be expanded kung ano ang magiging resulta ng ating pagtingin doon sa past five years naman na visas that have been issued,” she added.

(But maybe the list may be expanded based on what will be the result of our investigation on the visa issuance in the past five years.)

Sandoval said results of the investigation may be revealed by the end of January.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a task force to investigate the Immigration lawyers who may be connected to the scheme.

In December 2023, Sandoval said the bureau found that 459 applications that were issued visas were petitioned by fake companies. These foreign nationals were blacklisted by the BI.

She said that most of these 459 foreign nationals who were issued visas were already out of the Philippines.

“Those who are inside the countries still, nag-initiate tayo ng deportation proceedings against them kasi ang first step is order to leave because of the cancellation of their visas. Kapag hindi sila nag-comply doon sa order to leave, hahanapin ang mga 'yan at puwersahan nang ide-deport,” Sandoval explained.

(We initiated deportation proceedings against those who are still inside the country because they were ordered to leave due to the cancellation of their visas. If they do not comply with the order to leave, we will look for them then enforce their deportation.) —KG, GMA Integrated News