Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco attends a Senate hearing on Monday, September 9, 2024. (Screenshot from the Senate Youtube Channel)
MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said he has not been officially informed yet of his dismissal from his post.
According to Tansingco, he only learned about the supposed decision to relieve him from his post through the media.
“I have received it through the posts by media, but I have not yet been officially informed, Your Honor,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino, in response to Sen. Francis Tolentino during the hearing of the Senate committee on women on Monday.
“You’re not informed that you’re being relieved or being transferred to another post? So nothing?” Tolentino asked again.
“Not yet your, Your Honor,” the BI chief replied.
Pressed if he was aware of a move to replace him as the BI head, Tansingco repeated that his information was through the media.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier disclosed that he had asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to relieve and replace Tansingco because he was not satisfied with the latter’s performance.
“That’s okay. The president and I have agreed: He would be replaced. If I were him, I would resign already. Just resign,” he added, referring to Tansingco.
Press Secretary Cesar Chavez later confirmed that Tansingco’s dismissal had been approved by the president.
Chavez also confirmed that Tansingco’s removal from his post had something to do with the escape of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, whose Chinese name is Guo Hua Ping.
“Yes. That’s the reason,” the official was quoted as saying.
Guo fled the country in July after the Senate ordered her arrest for failure to attend the committee on women’s investigation into her alleged links to Philippine offshore gaming operators.
She was arrested in Jakarta on September 4 and is currently detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.