De Lima sacks 18 immigration agents at Clark

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the dismissal from the service of 18 Bureau of Immigration personnel for alleged involvement in human trafficking and other illegal activities at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark Field in Pampanga.

In a ruling on an administrative case, De Lima said she found credible the sworn statement of immigration officer Rachel Ong linking her fellow immigration officers to human trafficking activities at the airport.

The justice secretary said she believed the respondents were guilty of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dishonesty and gross neglect of duty.

“After careful evaluation of the arguments raised by both parties, this department finds that there exists substantial evidence to support the complaint of Ms. Ong,” De Lima said.

She said the defense of the erring immigration officers was merely “general denials, bereft of any compelling reasons to disregard the positive testimony of the witness.”

“We cannot and will not tolerate the presence of corrupt elements within our ranks who jeopardize our efforts in the war against human trafficking and graft and corruption,” she said.

Among those ordered dismissed were Heranio B. Manalo, Rey Alfred Y. Hernandez, Robin S. Pinzon, Romeo F. Dannug, Jose G. Melendrez, Adonis V. Fontanilla, Ramon B. Lapid, Evelyn O. Marinduque, Misael M. Tayag and Gaile Frances B. de Guzman-Sanglay.

Also separated were Jacqueline F. Miranda, Arlene Mendoza, James G. Guevarra, Sheryll P. Manguerra, Ramonsito G. Nuqui, Luisito Mercado, Leo Lugtu and Dante Aquino.

De Lima’s resolution nullified a previous ruling by former Justice Secretary Alberto Agra clearing the respondents of liability for irregularities at the airport.

The Interagency Council Against Trafficking said De Lima’s order was “a fair warning to all that the government is serious about its anti-trafficking campaign and violators will be meted out the full weight of the law.”

In her sworn statement, Ong said she had personal knowledge of the anomalies at the airport since she herself had helped facilitate illegal transactions involving incoming and outgoing passengers in connivance with the accused.

Ong, who turned state evidence, said the sacked BI personnel had been allowing passengers to enter and leave the country without having to present E6 visas and other travel documents.

She said they also let people on the DOJ’s “hold departure orders” and “watch-list orders” leave the country in exchange for money.

“Even without the requisite overseas employment contract, (they) allowed Filipinos to leave the country to work abroad,” Ong said.

“They also allowed female tourists from China and Korea to enter the country to work as entertainers, without the requisite documents,” she added.