Bureau of Immigration main office in Manila (File photo)
MANILA – Authorities will intensify the continued crackdown on "fixers" allegedly in cahoots with Bureau of Immigration employees in smuggling foreigners into the country, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.
"I have directed the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to expand its investigation of fixers’ activities at the BI and find out who their cohorts are among the BI personnel, so that appropriate administrative and criminal charges may be filed against them," Guevarra told reporters.
The NBI had apprehended last week a former law firm employee for allegedly receiving PHP900,000 from three Chinese to facilitate their entry into the country.
The woman, identified as Vivian Lara, was arrested after she reportedly received marked money in the office of BI lawyer Arnulfo Maminta in Intramuros, Manila.
NBI Special Task Force chief Gerald Geralde said the new scheme involves incoming foreigners who give bribe money in advance for the processing of their travel documents.
The NBI will continue to look into alleged corruption in the bureau, Geralde said. (PNA)
