Immigration modernization bill in line with PBBM economic agenda

this wouldn’t have escalated and reached a court outside the country,” one statement from a victim read.

The victims also reported feeling unsafe as there are still instances where police intimidate them even in their communities, while others say they have been pressured not to file cases—affecting their morale.

They also raised that even with the new administration under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., “inaction continues” and no prospect to obtain justice at domestic level is seen in the current government.

The UP Third World Studies Center's latest report showed there have been 294 total reported drug-related killings under Marcos Jr., with 11 recorded just last May 8 to 15.

“President Marcos has not eschewed Operation Tokhang and has made no overt action to prosecute or hold accountable any of the top officials or to review the policy,” one of the victim representations said.

(Kaycee Valmonte with Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar.com)

Napoles cleared in one pork barrel case but...

the ghost projects, “similar to the conclusion reached in the plunder case as it involved the same acts charged here.”

But in allowing both cases to prosper in court, the First Division noted that the prosecution “was simply made to present the same evidence against Revilla, Cambe, and Napoles twice, and the latter were made to defend themselves for the same action twice.”

The division also again upheld that Revilla’s endorsement of Napoles’ NGOs was merely recommendatory and that he was “performing acts that were customary at the time.”

Nevertheless, Napoles’ acquittal effectively cleared her in the criminal cases related to the misuse of Revilla’s pork barrel funds.

The alleged mastermind behind the plunder of P10 billion in public funds still faces a slew of cases before the Sandiganbayan, including those related to the discretionary funds of Senator Estrada and now presidential counsel Enrile.

Guilty verdict

In the decision promulgated by the Second Division, Napoles was found guilty of two counts of graft and two counts of malversation of public funds for conspiring with former Davao del Sur lawmaker Douglas Cagas and several other public officials to implement ghost projects in exchange for kickbacks.

This particular case accused Cagas of unilaterally choosing and endorsing Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation, one of Napoles’ NGOs, to implement a fake livelihood project worth P8 million.

Also convicted were Technology Resource Center (TRC) officer Belina Concepcion and Napoles’ liaison Mylene Encarnacion for the graft charges, and TRC staff Maria Lacsamana and a certain Evelyn de Leon for the malversation charges.

‘Appalled’

They were all sentenced to serve six to 10 years in prison for the graft cases, and 12 to 17 years for the malversation charges. They were also asked to return P7.7 million to the government and pay the same amount as fine.

Sought for comment, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said she was “appalled” upon learning that the Sandiganbayan has acquitted Napoles in 16 criminal cases.

In a statement, Castro said this was shocking as she hoped that it would not set a precedent for the junking of the other cases against Napoles.

“I hope this acquittal of Napoles won’t be a prelude for the fate of other cases and I hope that this won’t be used to cover up other people involved in the pork barrel scam. If this happens, they might end up pocketing trillions of pesos,” Castro added. g

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 23 approved on second reading a priority bill of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) that proposes to modernize the Bureau of Immigration (BI). During her sponsorship speech, Committee on Justice chair Juliet Marie Ferrer said the passage of the proposed immigration modernization law under House Bill 8203 is in line with the economic agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"The improvement and modernization of our immigration system -- making it more efficient and effective -- will boost economic growth, attract more foreign investments, encourage tourism and create more jobs," Ferrer said.

Ferrer said it is imperative for the government to provide the BI and its personnel with the necessary funding and tools in order to improve their services and enhance their capabilities as the country's first line of defense on Philippine borders.

"Our immigration officers are the frontliners in our country's fight against terrorism, human trafficking, illegal recruitment and other illegal activities perpetrated by foreigners on our soil and against Filipino citizens," she said.

Ferrer recognized the hard work of immigration officers during the pandemic as they made sure that Filipinos were safe while traveling to and from the country, while minimizing the effects of the global pandemic on Philippine shores.

"We have seen our immigration officers exert herculean efforts to protect our citizens from human trafficking and illegal recruitment, as well as preventing terrorists, sex offenders, and other undesirable foreign nationals from entering the country," she said.

She pointed out that the immigration officers are among the lowest paid employees in government service with the entry level IO-1 position holding Salary Grade 11.

The measure, she said, seeks to upgrade the salaries of immigration officers and other BI employees, as well as provide additional benefits and incentives.

Ferrer said an Immigration Trust Fund shall be created for the modernization and professionalization of the bureau, including new equipment and facilities.

"With this bill, we will be giving the bureau and its personnel the resources to perform their functions to the best of their abilities," she said.

The bill seeks to harmonize existing immigration laws, such as the Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, in order to make them more responsive and in touch with international developments in the 21st century.

The chamber approved House Bill 8203 through voice voting. (PNA)