The Bureau of Immigration has recommended to the Department of Justice the preventive suspension of its 18 agents for alleged extortion of 15 South Koreans in Angeles City, Pampanga.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the operatives should be suspended pending the results of the probe.
It can be recalled that the immigration officers were subject of news reports after several Korean victims filed a complaint to the Office of the President and the DoJ, the mother unit of the BI.
The Koreans claimed they were arrested for alleged overstaying and other violations of the immigration law, but subsequently freed after paying various sums.
“We requested the DoJ to issue the suspension order. We cannot allow such instances to go unpunished,” said Morente.
The BI chief explained that the agents face both administrative and criminal charges, adding that the National Bureau of Investigation has been asked to conduct separate investigation.
Morente reiterated that the agency is “serious in sweeping its ranks of corrupt practices.” (Jun Ramirez)
