Tansingco thanks Marcos, co-workers for 2-year BI stint

Bureau of Immigration Norman Tansingco talks to members of the media during a press conference with officials of the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the NBI-BSD office on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City on Friday, August 23, 2024. Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Former Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Wednesday advised BI personnel to continue to work solely “for the interest of the public, over and above other interests” as he leaves his post as leader of the bureau.

In a statement, Tansingco also thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and the BI family for his two-year term as BI chief.

READ: Marcos axes Tansingco as BI chief over Alice Guo’s escape

“Allow me then to express my gratitude to His Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic, for the opportunity to serve under his Administration. The past two years have been filled with optimism, challenges and determination,” he said.

“To all the gallant men and women of the Bureau, I cannot thank you enough. Always bear in mind that, as public servants, you must continue to work solely for the interest of the public, over and above other interests. Be ever guided by the BI principles of Professionalism, Integrity and Patriotism,” Tansingco added.

He also acknowledged the support of the BI Board of Commissioners and the offices of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary and DOJ Supervising Undersecretary during his term.

Among other agencies he also thanked were BI’s foreign law enforcement agency counterparts and the International Criminal Police Organization.

“Right at the get-go, it has been a focused yet challenging effort to address the various concerns confronting the BI, such as controlling the borders at the international ports of entry and exit, and preventing Filipinos from being trafficked abroad, among others. Such a herculean task for an agency that is operating under a colonial-era legislation,” he said.

Tansingco is also optimistic that BI will remain committed to enacting its mission.

“To BI’s inter-agency partners, stakeholders, and the general public, it is assured that the Bureau of Immigration shall remain steadfast in its commitment, unrelenting in its mission, and persevering in the discharge of its mandated duties and functions,” he said.

“Finally, I welcome the next man or woman the President may put at the helm of the Bureau even as I assure everyone that the BI is currently manned by a corps of dedicated professionals,” he said.

Marcos named Tansingco as BI commissioner last September 2022, but was relieved from his post just last Monday over the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.

On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that Deputy Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado will take the role of BI’s officer-in-charge following the dismissal of Tansingco.

Tansingco, in his statement, did not address allegations that some BI personnel helped Guo in her escape from the country.