Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has relieved the chief and 35 other personnel of its holding facility in Taguig after a “surprise raid” on the jail last Jan. 30 yielded unauthorized cellphones and gadgets, undeclared money, cigarettes, sharp objects, and construction materials.
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“A lot can be done to improve the facility. After seeing the situation firsthand, we have seen opportunities for improvement and issues that need to be addressed,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
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A day after the raid, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Japanese nationals suspected to be behind a string of robberies in Japan may have run criminal enterprises in the BI detention center after they were found to have illegally kept phones inside the facility.
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READ: DOJ says Japanese nationals may have run criminal enterprises from BI jail
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Tansingco said the relieved personnel were reassigned to other back-end offices pending investigation.
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The BI chief added he has not given any authorization that allows foreign wards to use cellphones since he assumed office in September last year.
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Tansingco also ordered the separation of foreign fugitives from other deportees, and subject them to tighter security and regulations compared to those with lesser offenses.
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“I have instructed the new management of the BIWF (Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility) to implement improvements in the facility, and to ensure that no such incident occurs in the future,” the BI chief said.
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“Those who are found to be remiss of their duty will definitely face administrative sanctions,” he added.
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Foreign nationals set for deportation are being held at the Bicutan Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
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READ: 3 immigration officers under probe over involvement in human trafficking
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The raid on Monday was conducted by operatives of the BI’s intelligence division, assisted by the National Capital Region Police Office.
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