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MANILA, Philippines?Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday reversed the earlier ruling of her predecessor Alberto Agra dismissing the case against officials of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport-Bureau of Immigration (DMIA-BI) for alleged involvement in human trafficking.
In a memorandum order, De Lima said a review of facts and records of the case constrained her to reject Agra?s findings and conclusions.
Facing a case for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dishonesty, and gross neglect of duty include Heranio Manalo, Janice De Jesus-Corres, Rey Alfred Hernandez, Robins Pinzon, Romeo Dannug, Jose Melendrez, Adonis Fontanilla, Ramon Lapid, Evelyn Marinduque, Misael Tayag, Gaile Frances De Guzman-Sangly, Jacqueline Miranda, Arlene Mendoza, James Guevarra, Sheryll Manguerra, Ramonsito Nuqui, Luisito Mercado, Leo Lugto, Ramoncito Barro, and Dante Aquino.
The case stemmed from the allegations of Immigration Agent Racel Ong against her former colleagues at the DMIA-BI.
Ong confessed to illegal activities inside the Clark, Pampanga airport after she was identified by two of the victims she escorted out of the country to Malaysia.
In dismissing the case, Agra said Ong?s complaint-affidavit is ?devoid of necessary particulars? and that Ong appeared to have an axe to grind against her former colleagues.
But De Lima said the complaint filed by Ong is ?not based on rumor, or hearsay, or second-hand stories thrice told. It is based on claimed first-hand personal knowledge of a former colleague who is presently facing criminal charges precisely for the same alleged syndicated activities that has apparently become the daily fare at the DMIA.?
?To conclude that Ong?s allegations are all too sweeping and indiscriminate and creates the impression that all are in conspiracy to allow the entry and exit of undocumented passengers for the right price is not supported by the evidence on record.?
?Agra missed the obvious point that it is precisely because the DMIA-BI personnel are alleged to be in conspiracy and operating as a syndicate for human trafficking that the scale and scope of the sworn statements of Ong must necessarily include each and every personnel, agency, or entity involved in the operation,? she added.
