Two BI intel officials tagged in extortion sacked
TWO BUREAU of Immigration (BI) off icials allegedly involved in the controversial handover of P50 million, as caught by cameras, at a hotel in Nov. 26 have been relieved, Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II disclosed on Wednesday. Copies of the termination letters signed by Mr. Aguirre — ordering the immediate dismissal of Acting BI Intelligence Chief Charles T. Calima, Jr. and Technical Assistant Edward T. Chan, a police officer detailed to the BI — were shared with reporters on Wednesday morning. The letters, however, did not cite any reason for the dismissal of Messrs. Calima and Chan.
The dismissals come on the heels of Mr. Aguirre’s recommendation for the “immediate termination” of BI Associate Commissioners Al C. Argosino and Michael B. Robles. The recommendation, dated Dec. 13, was addressed to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, coursed through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea and Presidential Management Staff Head Christopher Lawrence T. Go.
The letter to Mr. Duterte, which Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes shared with the media Tuesday night, read: “Considering that the Constitution prescribes that Public Office is a public trust, government officials and employees are held in a pedestal by the people. An act of impropriety or the appearance of an impropriety on the part of an officer or employee erodes the public’s trust and tarnishes the off ice occupied by the erring individual.”
“More so, in cases of officials whose offices are held in trust and confidence of the appointing authority, the separation of an erring official is made more apparent with the loss of such trust and confidence due to their failure to perform their respective duties beyond reproach,” the letter also read.
The four BI ranking officials were tagged in the alleged P50million extortion, as claimed by retired police senior superintendent Wally Sombero, in connection with the Nov. 24 raid at the Lam- operated Fontana Leisure Resorts and Casino that led to the arrest of 1,316 Chinese nationals, who reportedly entered into and were working illegally in the country.