Senator Risa Hontiveros (File photo)
MANILA – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday lauded the Department of Justice (DOJ) for ordering the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to stop granting work visas requested by fake companies.
Hontiveros made this comment as she expressed alarm over the reported BI’s issuance of work visas to fake corporations, which has allowed entry to thousands of foreigners.
“I do welcome the Department of Justice (DOJ) directive that orders the BI to stop granting work visas requested by fake companies. Isang mahalagang hakbang ito para matigil ang mga kababalaghan sa ahensya (This is an important step to stop anomalies in the agency),” the lady lawmaker said in a statement.
According to the DOJ, the BI has given out thousands of pre-arranged employment visas, called 9G, to foreigners allegedly employed in fake local corporations.
“This is a national security risk. Hindi natin alam baka mga sindikato at kriminal na ang mga nakapasok sa bansa. (We don’t know, syndicates and criminals might have entered already in the country),” Hontiveros said.
She said the entry of foreign nationals through fake corporations will be investigated in the Senate hearing.
“We also have information that these work visas are what foreign nationals use to work for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators,” she added.
Hontiveros said this also reminds her of a series of hearings on the corruption scandal in the BI known as the “Pastillas Scam,” and said that the agency should do more to clean up its ranks.
She added that BI is still marred by controversies, four years after the Pastilla scam.
A number of ranking BI officers and employees were charged in court based on the committee report of Hontiveros.
“Why does it seem like nothing has changed? Kailan pa ba tuluyang maaayos ang BI? Ilang Senate hearings pa ang kailangan? (How many senate hearings, still we need” It is disappointing that the agency is front and center of this issue once again,” Hontiveros added.
Senator Grace Poe also commended the DOJ, saying the proliferation of fake firms “is alarming and poses peace and order threats.”
“These nefarious activities will remain unabated if personnel from no less than the Bureau of Immigration will keep the gates open to illegal foreigners. And we have witnessed how crimes related to POGOs continue to bring problems to our peace and order,” she said in a statement on Thursday.
Poe urged the DOJ to get to the bottom of the illegal scheme, and punish erring immigration personnel and other individuals. (PNA)
