Immigration bureau adopts ‘one-strike’ policy on complaints vs employees
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Thursday that it will implement a “one-strike” policy which will involve the instant relief of employees that are the subject of complaints or investigations, calling it an anti-corruption measure.
Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the BI’s newly-reconstituted Board of Discipline will “carefully assess complaints and reports” and will recommend administrative charges to the Justice department if merited.
According to BI records, 131 personnel have been sanctioned since 2016, including the penalty of dismissal.
“The set-up now is that we are merely recommendatory to the DoJ. If administrative control was to be given to the BI, if we find someone involved in improper activities in the morning, we can immediately implement a suspension in the afternoon,” Mr. Morente said, noting that the BI lacks disciplinary powers over its employees under immigration law.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier cleared Mr. Morente after a bribery scandal allegedly involving the entry of Chinese nationals without going through immigration channels. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
