Reyes wants four deportees exonerated

Sen. Pete Reyes urged fellow senators yesterday to meet with Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation officials for a full-scale probe on the alleged extortion activities by some immigration officials against four Saipan residents last March.

Reyes also urged that the four individuals—David Cepeda, Jesus Lizama, Eugene Borja, and Brian Reyes—be exonerated from all charges lodged against them, including illegal recruitment and promoting prostitution.

In a Senate session held yesterday morning, Reyes said it is only fitting to meet with BID Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr., who earlier ordered that BID officials implicated in the case to take a leave of absence during the investigation process.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues who have helped me. Atty. Fernandez had formed a task force to investigate the incident and all the accused are on leave pending the completion of this investigation. I believe that this problem can be resolved in an efficient manner,” said the senator.

Reyes added that the committee should consistently look into the matter to ensure that the investigation is completed.

Reyes said a Senate meeting with the BID task force would be in the best interest of the CNMI, particularly since the government is sending medical referral patients to Manila for treatment.

The 14th CNMI Senate had ordered a full-scale probe into the allegations that immigration officials in Manila extorted money from four Saipan residents who were being detained for alleged illegal recruitment and promotion of prostitution.

Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano had directed the Committee on Foreign Relations chaired by Sen. Henry San Nicolas to look into the incident to determine what actions can be taken against the Philippine immigration officials implicated in the case.

Reyes earlier named Philippine immigration division attorney Eleuterio Balina, Fe Valois-Bazuela, and the warden and assistant warden of the immigration detention facility as recipients of more than Php820,000 ($16,400) from the four Saipan residents. The four reportedly spent P1.4 million ($28,000) in all, including initial payments made for the dropping of the illegal recruitment charges.

BID’s Fernandez had assured that there would be no whitewash in the investigation and appropriate punishment would be meted out to responsible individuals, should they be found guilty of the offense.

Fernandez also requested the BID resident Ombudsman to assist in the probe by conducting a parallel investigation into the case, a report published in the Manila Bulletin said.

Named to the probe body were lawyers Benjamin Kalaw, BID legal chief; Jose Tria, a member of the bureau’s prosecution task force; and Edmundo Magpantay, a DOJ prosecutor presently detailed with the bureau. The committee, chaired by BID administrative chief Felino Quirante Jr., was given 15 days to conduct the probe and submit its findings and recommendations to Fernandez.