THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned unscrupulous individuals acting as fixers in the agency of imprisonment and at least P200,000 fine.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente revealed on Thursday that the agency has launched launches a crackdown against fixers who offer to facilitate transactions within the bureau in exchange for a fee.
Morente stressed that the BI “condemns any and all acts of fixing” and that no BI official or employee is authorized to engage in such activities.
He stressed that BI personnel are barred from offering any person availing of the bureau’s services to hasten the processing of transactions.
Morente said those who will be caught acting as fixers may be charged and eventually punished by imprisonment of not more than six years or a fine not exceeding P200,000.
In line with the latest directive, Morente advised those who have been victimized to report their experience to the Immigration Helpline via email at [email protected], or via the BI’s Committee on Good Governance (CGG) and the BI’s Administrative Division.
He said complainants must submit a written complaint mentioning, among others, the name of the fixer, location of the office, date, time, type of transaction, narration of events, and the signature of the complainant.
Earlier, Morente formed a six-man BI Anti-Corruption Committee, chaired by Deputy Commissioner J. Tobias Javier that was tasked to institute reforms and implement programs that will reduce, if not eliminate corruption in the agency.
The committee was also directed to coordinate and liaise with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in initiating anti-corruption programs and activities in the BI.