B.I. orders probe into unauthorized release of 22 Chinese migrant workers

Immigration Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison has ordered an immediate investigation into the reported unauthorized release from custody of at least 22 Chinese, who were apprehended in an operation in Pasay City on Tuesday last week.

The “missing” Chinese were among the 191 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, who were caught working as call-center agents/online-gambling operators in an office building.

However, only 169 of these alleged illegal workers were brought to the Bureau of Immigration main office for inquest proceedings.

Mison said 21 of those released without authority were claimed to possess Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) special visas; one appeared to be unaccounted, or missing.

“Ceza visas are company- and station-specific. Mere possession of this particular visa does not automatically absolve the holder of any liability under immigration laws. The company and the place of work must still be established in order to validate that the visa is legitimately used,” the BI said in a news statement.

Further investigation showed that 14 more foreign nationals were released from custody for presenting valid work visas.

A total of 155 foreign nationals were charged for working without permit, and subsequently transferred to BI’s holding facility in Bicutan, and at the Philippine Immigration Academy in Clark, Pampanga, for temporary custody pending deportation proceedings.

BI spokesman Elaine Tan said Mison is seeking an explanation from BI officers involved as part of the probe. –Joel R. San Juan, Businessmirror