Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 16) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to no longer issue visas petitioned by unincorporated businesses run by just one owner, after authorities found that thousands of foreigners using fake corporations were allowed entry to the Philippines.
“I’m asking the BI not to grant any more visas to sole proprietorships, but only to corporations that have the stamp of approval of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission),” he told reporters on Tuesday after meeting with Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco a day prior.
Remulla said it was revealed that the BI has granted thousands of 9G – or pre-arranged employment visas – petitioned by fake local corporations for foreigners they will supposedly employ.
“We’re talking about a lot of— more than 500 corporations, and thousands and thousands of visas issued with the petition of these corporations, which is presumed to have been validated by the legal department and the visa issuing authority of the Bureau of Immigration,” he said.
The DOJ chief has ordered a more in-depth probe into the matter which came to his attention in August last year. He said he wants the investigation to trace back as far as five years’ worth of BI transactions.
He added that they are looking into the possible connivance of BI legal officers.
“The [petition of the] corporations were accepted hook, line, and sinker without any validation,” Remulla said. “Meaning to say, most probably in cahoots, because we’re talking about due diligence as a matter of government policy in every transaction.”
Meanwhile, upon his instructions, Remulla said Tansingco has committed to reorganize the bureau’s visa processing group.
However, he lamented that the BI has allegedly been slow-moving in its efforts.
“I am challenging them, the Immigration commissioner, to put this matter as a priority so that we stop making a fool of Filipinos,” the Justice secretary said.
The BI announced in December that it is set to blacklist hundreds of foreign nationals who used fake companies in their visa application.
According to Tansingco, the applications were processed using the services of accredited entities which were authorized to apply on behalf of foreign nationals.
