De Lima voids Agra memo, sustains filing of raps vs Immigration execs

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has reversed a memorandum issued by her predecessor that dismissed the filing of charges against Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials allegedly involved in human trafficking at a Pampanga airport. A new memo dated July 16, 2010 issued by De Lima sustained Senior State Prosecutor Aileen Marie Gutierrez's recommendation to file charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, dishonesty, gross neglect of duty against the immigration officials at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). "The undersigned [De Lima] sets aside the memorandum issued by [Alberto Agra] dated June 28, 2010 and approves en toto the report of the DOJ investigating panel dated April 14, 2010 finding a prima facie case against the subject [Immigration] personnel...," the new memorandum said. The immigration officials were accused by co-employee, Racel Ong, of the following:

• Facilitating the [entry or exit] of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport passengers with complete or falsified documents;
• Colluding with illegal recruiters and human trafficking syndicates in the departure and entry of persons; and
• Collecting personal payments and receiving favors, including sexual favors, in exchange for such facilitation and collusions.

However, last June 28, or three days before he stepped down from office, Agra issued a memorandum, saying Ong's complaint affidavit was "devoid of the necessary particulars." Agra likewise said Ong's allegations are unsupported by other corroborating testimonies. De Lima's reversal However, upon case review, De Lima gave weight to Ong's testimony, which she said was not based on rumors or hearsay, but on a first-hand, personal knowledge of the incidents at the airport. "She [Ong] has established credibility because she is complaining as a whistleblower and had admitted participating in the same illegal activities," the Justice secretary said. As such, De Lima voided Agra's previous memo and sustained her department's filing of charges against the Immigration personnel. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV