Two Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel have been relieved from their posts following reports of their alleged involvement in illegal activities.
Meanwhile, BI operatives arrested three Chinese nationals, two of them women, who were wanted by authorities in China for involvement in economic crimes.
BI chief Norman Tangsingco axed the two immigration officers amid intelligence reports that they have been involved in trafficking activities at the Clark International Airport (CIA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The names of the two relieved BI officers were not immediately disclosed.
“We have received information that the two have links to trafficking syndicates. We are initiating an investigation to verify this information, and if there is indeed probable cause, we shall file the appropriate cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ),” Tansingco said.
He added that as a preventive measure, the two officers would be temporarily assigned to “back-end office duties” pending completion of the investigation.
“While imposing penalties would be subject to the resolution of possible cases against them, we are relieving them from frontline duty to ensure unbiased investigation,” Tansingco explained.
He warned his constituents against engaging in illegal activities, under pain of administrative cases, suspension, or dismissal.
“The elimination of corruption is really one of my main targets in the bureau. Any attempt to engage with corrupt practices shall be met with the harshest penalties possible,” he stressed.
Those arrested were identified as Cheung Wa, Chau Mut Hing and Zhang Yi. They were rounded up in Paranaque City.
Cheung was arrested in Brgy. Tambo in Paranaque while the two women were collared in an establishment in New Seaside Drive, Parañaque.
Cheung who was reportedly in the wanted list of the Public Security Bureau of Fuding
City for involvement in economic crimes in China, allegedly fleeced his victims the equivalent of P26 million.
He was said to have established several investment companies which defrauded more than 100 victims under the guise of a real estate company promising high interest rates.
Tansingco said the two Chinese women had arrest warrants issued last December by state prosecutors in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province and Shanghai City.
They were accused of being members of a syndicate that engages in oil smuggling and production of counterfeit commodities.