Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7) — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he has instructed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to file cases against the judges who granted the habeas corpus petition of some Chinese nationals arrested at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Las Piñas City.
I want to tell you that I have instructed the Bureau of Immigration to file the necessary cases against the judges who willingly or in cognizance of the law, who willingly granted these habeas corpus petitions,” Remulla said in a briefing Monday.According to Remulla, the four Las Piñas judges granted the petition to release four foreign POGO workers from government custody without any condition.Kapag meron kang foreigner na hinahawakan with violation of immigration law, dapat diyan dapat merong colatilla ang pag-grant ng kanilang habeas corpus, unless they’re being held for other lawful purposes,” Remulla explained.[Translation: If you have a foreigner who is being held in violation of immigration law, there must be an excuse for the granting of their habeas corpus.]When it comes to “acts of illegal aliens in the country,” Remulla said the judges have neglected the jurisdiction of the BI and the Department of Justice.
On July 28, the Tenth Division of the Court of Appeals granted the petitions of Ang Chin Keong, Choo Jun Cheng, Choo Wei Jazz, and a certain Edy, and ordered their release “unless there are other lawful causes warranting their continuing restraint.”
The four foreigners were among the 2,000 workers rescued in a raid at a Las Piñas POGO hub in June.
