The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is poised to intensify and expand its probe on the irregular issuance of employment visas (9G) to dubious corporations to unearth the possible involvement of more personnel of the agency.
Four immigration lawyers allegedly linked to the anomaly have been relieved pending completion of the investigation. The 9G visa is required of foreign nationals seeking to work in the Philippines.
“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 (These four lawyers are involved in the processing of the applications (for 9G visas), that is why our investigation is initially focused on them),” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a dzBB interview.
“But maybe the list may be expanded depending on the outcome of the probe covering visa issuance over the past five years,” Sandoval said.
She 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 irregularity.
In December 2023, Sandoval said the bureau found out that 459 approved applications came from fake companies. The foreigners involved were subsequently blacklisted by the BI.
Sandoval said most of these 459 foreign nationals who were issued visas were already out of the Philippines.
She said the BI initiated deportation proceedings against those who are still in the country but were ordered to leave due to the cancellation of their visas. Those who refuse to voluntarily leave would be subjected to deportation proceedings.
