Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday asked the Senate to craft a law imposing stiffer penalties on lawyers in alleged case filing racket to avert deportation of foreigners.
In yesterday’s hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for next year, Remulla told the panel presided by Senate Finance committee chairman Senator Juan Edgardo Angara that such lawyers conspire with unwanted foreigners in filing cases to avoid deportation.
He said these foreigners opted to stay in the Philippines than be sent back to their home country.
He said these foreigners opted to stay in the Philippines than sent back to their country of origin.
He noted that this scheme has been a source of income for some lawyers. “It’s really a source of livelihood. These lawyers resort to “demanda me” package to avoid the deportation of unwanted foreigners.
Remulla also cited the need for a law that will “immediately” waive these alleged trumped-up charges filed by the foreigners against themselves.
“If we will have a law that will immediately waive these trumped-up charges then that would be good,” he said.
Under existing laws, he noted that Philippine authorities cannot deport foreigners if there have pending cases in court.
He related to the Senate panel the case of a woman who filed a case against his Japanese boyfriend for alleged violation of the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act.
Remulla said they saw the complainant frequently kissing the supposed respondent in the cheeks.