Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday announced it will deactivate the Bureau of Immigration’s Ports Operations Division (POD), saying it is “part of the defect in the immigration system.”
“Reforms are underway in the Bureau of Immigration,” DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin told a press briefing. “I’m about to sign an order that will deactivate one office [POD] which we believe is part of the defect in the immigration system right now.”
He said POD is one office that centralizes the immigration operation of different ports in the country under one person.
“We will take away the centralization and we will leave command responsibility to every person heading the operations in every airport,” Remulla added.
He said he will sign the order in the afternoon of Feb. 7.
The move is in response to controversies the bureau faced recently, Remulla added.
He also confirmed that there is an ongoing administrative case against BI officials in connection with the Japanese fugitives who are being deported.
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“There is already an ongoing show cause order administrative case,” Remulla said. “We are looking at criminal cases that will be filed for infidelity in the custody of prisoners.”
