The Bureau of Immigration has announced the arrest of a contractual BI agent together with two airport ground handlers for allegedly trying to extort cash from an airline company as payment for services rendered.
It was learned that the trio tried to extort some P60,000 from Royal Air Philippines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
They were arrested in a joint entrapment operation by the BI and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group.
BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the arrest followed after airport operations section deputy head ER German Robin received a complaint from Royal Air Philippines that a certain Angelo Esquijo introduced himself as an employee of BI and tried to collect payments for special flights.
“Royal Air reported this to us, hence we were able to set up the entrapment. The airline was about to hand over the cash to the suspects when they were arrested,” Morente added.
Morente said that the suspects used aliases but they were later identified as Rino Romero, a contractual employee of BI assigned at NAIA Terminal 3, and airport ground handlers Rene Cascaño and Jodrel Victorino.
“Two of the suspects pretended to be employees of the BI, while the other misrepresented himself as an authorized officer. They put the name of the BI and the Immigration Officers Association of the Philippines in jeopardy,” Morente said.
Morente expressed his dismay towards the incident, saying, “We will not tolerate such illegal acts. Such actions will not go unpunished.”
Apart from termination, the trio faces criminal charges. (Jun Ramirez)
