MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is calling on legislators to amend current laws to address loopholes that allow foreign fugitives to avoid deportation. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized the need for clear, permanent prohibitions to stop legal tactics used to delay deportation proceedings.
“We need Congress to step in and introduce laws that prevent these delaying maneuvers. Without clear legal safeguards, we will continue to see fugitives manipulate the system,” Viado stated.
Viado made the plea following the recent re-arrest of South Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon in Angeles City, Pampanga. The fugitive’s case revealed that some lawyers have been filing cases to keep clients in the Philippines longer, claiming “ongoing legal cases” as a reason to delay deportation.
“If this continues unchecked, every fugitive will exploit this loophole to delay their deportation,” Viado warned.
Many of these fugitives are wealthy, well-connected individuals with access to top legal experts who know how to evade immigration laws, Viado added. Currently, the BI’s ability to act swiftly is constrained by the existing legal framework.
To address this, the BI is collaborating with the Department of Justice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Supreme Court to prevent criminals from using legal proceedings as a shield.
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