Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Tuesday slammed news that the agency is eyeing amnesty for illegal aliens.
Tansingco reacted to a news article quoting BI Deputy Commissioner Daniel Laogan stating that a planned amnesty is on the way, and a draft proposal has been submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“No such proposal has been submitted by the BI,” clarified Tansingco. “We are an implementing agency, and amnesty would require a new law passed by Congress,” he added.
In the article, Laogan was quoted saying that amnesty is on its way, with a projected income of Php2B from penalties and fines. Laogan was likewise quoted saying that there are approximately 500,000 illegal aliens currently in the country.
“Such statements are unauthorized and figures are baseless,” slammed Tansingco.
Tansingco is currently in Thailand as Head of the Philippine delegation in an ASEAN meeting of immigration departments and heads of consular affairs.
“His statements are careless and dangerous,” said Tansingco. “In fact, we have received prior information that there are unscrupulous groups on social messaging apps already selling slots for this supposed amnesty, hence we reiterate that no such thing is on the table,” he added.
Tansingco slams statements of Laogan ‘unauthorized, no basis’
Laogan is the last Deputy Commissioner to be appointed to the BI. He previously served as president of the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. and Senior Adviser of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the interception of three victims of trafficking last August 5.
In a report to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) members said that the three male victims, all in their early 40s and late 30s, initially claimed to be tourists bound for Hong Kong on board a Cathay Pacific flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
All initially claimed to be employed in the construction industry locally, and are each traveling alone for a vacation. However, upon interview, it was found out that they were bound for Ethiopia for employment.
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