De Lima appoints another military man as Immigration OIC

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Wednesday designated another military man to sit as officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Immigration following the resignation of Commissioner Ricardo David Jr.

In her Department Order No. 504 dated July 16 but made public Wednesday, De Lima appointed Associate Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison to sit as OIC of the Office of the Commissioner of Immigration.

However, De Lima said that as OIC, his functions do not include the power to act on matters involving policy administration, approval of long-term contracts and transactions, appointment and firing of personnel, and other matters that are beyond administrative and supervisory in nature.

Mison is a former military officer before becoming a lawyer. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at WestPoint in New York. He obtained his law degree at the Ateneo De Manila University and earned his masters of law degree at a university in Southern California.

David resigned from his post saying “several unfortunate incidents and controversies” have taken place which undermined his anti-corruption drive.

Prior to his stint at the Immigration, David was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.