The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will conduct an investigation on the alleged P20 million extortion activities involving immigration officers from Filipino-Indian communities in Iloilo, Bacolod, Bohol and other towns in the Visayas Region.
“The BI management does not tolerate any kind of corrupt practices amongst its ranks,” BI commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Thursday.
“We have initiated an investigation on this matter and are welcoming information from concerned individuals on reports against erring personnel,” he added.
Tansingco was referring to a news report that some BI operatives extorted money from 19 out of the 33 Filipino-Indian nationals who were arrested last February 22 in Iloilo.
The report said 14 of those arrested were officially charged for various offenses while 19 were freed after paying P350,000 each to BI operatives.
The report also claimed that the implicated agents met with representatives of the Filipino-Indian community to propose a collection of P50,000 fee per member, purportedly to secure exemption from future interventions by the BI.
The Filipino-Indian community is reportedly planning to launch a protest against the said extortion activities.
The BI has yet to receive a formal complaint, but spokesman Dana Sandoval said the report has already reached the attention of the agency.
“We have yet to receive a copy of the official complaint, but the Commissioner has initiated investigation upon receiving such information,” Sandoval said.