BI employees report boss to Marcos
Employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have accused Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado of corruption and misconduct in handling cases involving the now-banned Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) and the deportation of illegal foreign workers.
In a letter dated June 2 addressed to President Marcos and received by Malacañang, the employees, who chose to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, raised a number of pressing issues that, “if left unaddressed could lead to significant corruption problem, potentially tarnishing the image of the administration.”
The letter obtained by the Inquirer said Viado had abused his authority, “shamelessly establishing a special agenda to expedite the bail release of foreign nationals involved in the notorious operations of Pogos.”
The employees said he had issued a release order in behalf of three “influential bosses” behind the raided Pogo hub at the RiRance Building in Tambo, Parañaque City.
They identified these bosses as Wang Qixin, Chen Jiangsong and Luo Shangfen.
They claimed further that Viado recently stopped the transfer of 39 foreign nationals caught illegally working at Udenna Tower in Taguig City.
“In a shocking twist, rather than adhering to protocol and sending these individuals to the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility (BIWF), he brazenly ordered them to be confined in the Bureau’s own conference room, a move that has left many questioning his motives and integrity,” the employees said.
‘Special accommodation’
Lawyer Gilbert Repizo, chair of the BI’s Board of Special Inquiry, had also questioned the “special treatment” given to these foreign nationals despite a commitment order to have them turned over to the facility.
“Where will be deterrence and fear of laws if there will be special accommodation?” Repizo said in a public Facebook post. He said he had also written a letter dated June 2 to Fortunato Manahan, chief of the BI’s intelligence division, regarding that matter.
The employees said these individuals could soon be allowed to post bail.
They also accused Viado of negotiating the release of 114 foreign workers of notorious Pogo company Asian Gaming Technology, following their arrest on March 19 by agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.
“While it’s understood that some deportation cases for Pogo foreign nationals might be dismissed based on merit, it is outrageous that all apprehended workers were released on the direct orders of the BI Commissioner,” the employees said.
They said this “brazen move not only flouts the outright ban on Pogos… but also raises serious questions about corruption and collusion within our Bureau.”
Quota visas for sale
According to the employees, quota visas—which grant permanent residency to a specified number of foreign nationals—were also auctioned off, going to the highest bidders under Viado’s leadership.
They noted that this issue was briefly raised at a Senate hearing on March 18.
The BI’s Board of Commissioners has the sole authority to issue these “priced visas,” the employees said.
In a letter to Viado dated May 28, Repizo affirmed the price of a quota visa for Chinese nationals—P5 million compared with only P500,000 for Europeans.
Meanwhile foreign embassies, including those of China and Vietnam, have expressed alarm over the treatment of their deported nationals, according to the BI employees.
They cited instances of Chinese nationals stranded in Macau and unable to reach Shanghai, their intended destination.
The employees also cited a report by the Vietnamese Embassy about an incident involving 10 of its nationals who were placed on a direct flight to Phnom Penh on Feb. 25 without any prior notification.
If not for the intervention of Cambodian authorities, these individuals could have ended up as victims of scam operations in Phnom Penh, the employees said.
“These unfortunate individuals,” they said, “are facing nightmarish struggles to reach their intended destinations, highlighting the severe implications of this outrageous situation.”
“This alarming scenario implies that human trafficking is being facilitated by the Bureau of Immigration itself,” the employees said.
‘Deplorable work ethic’
They cited further Viado’s “deplorable work ethic,” claiming that he usually arrived around lunchtime at the earliest unlike his predecessor who was already at the bureau by 6 a.m.
They said Viado also convenes the Board of Commissioners only once a month, a departure from the previous norm of at least three meetings per month.
“This blatant lack of commitment has led to a significant backlog of the Board’s work, exacerbating an already troubling situation,” they said.
They also claimed Viado joined a meeting on May 2 by the BI’s Bids and Awards Committee regarding the bureau’s e-gates project.
As head of the agency’s Procurement Entity, he ignored explicit prohibitions against attending the committee’s meetings—a safeguard to shield crucial projects from undue influence, the employees said.
They said a thorough investigation into all transactions carried out by the Office of the Commissioner on Viado’s watch would “undoubtedly uncover more alarming issues.”
“Regrettably, under the current leadership of the Department of Justice, our confidence in holding him accountable for his actions is waning, especially considering his close ties as a fraternity brother [of the] current DOJ leaders,” they said further.
“While our complaint may not result in immediate change, we remain resolute in our commitment to serving the Bureau of Immigration and will tirelessly work to address and eliminate corrupt practices within our agency,” the employees said.
‘Baseless allegations’
Viado was sought for comment but had yet to respond as of this writing.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, who was also reached for comment, said in a statement to the Inquirer: “We have yet to verify the authenticity of a document circulating online containing baseless allegations against the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.” She did not say if her statement referred to the letter.
“The Bureau remains open to legitimate investigation and is fully committed to upholding transparency, accountability and integrity in all its operations and leadership,” Sandoval said. —WITH A REPORT FROM JANE BAUTISTA
