Lawyer files graft raps vs De Lima, NBI, Immigration chiefs

A lawyer on Tuesday filed graft and misconduct charges against Justice Secretary de Lima and the respective heads of the National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration over the controversial deportation of 14 Taiwan nationals last February. A radio report said that aside from De Lima, other officials named by lawyer Reynaldo Bagatsing in his four-page "urgent motion for investigation" before the Office of Ombudsman were NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula and Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma. Bagatsing accused the officials of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; as well as RA 3019 Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Bagatsing said the deportation order against the foreigners last February 2 was "baseless" because they were legally staying in the Philippines and have been able to secure a visa. In a text message, De Lima said they have already "explained or justified our actions relative to that matter in various fora -- the Office of the President, both houses of Congress, Court of Appeals, and to the public in general thru media." "We also talked to MECO and TECO. The decision to deport was anchored on cogent and valid grounds. I don't understand why graft charges have been initiated. In any case, we'll just respond to such charges in due time," she said. GMA News Online tried but failed to get the sides of Gatdula and Ledesma. Both the NBI and Immigration Bureau are under the DOJ. 14 Taiwanese The 14 Taiwanese were deported to China on February 2, a move that irked the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, which demanded that the 14 be brought to Taiwan instead of China, where drug offenses are punishable by death. The incident later prompted Taipei to seek an apology from Manila, and Taiwan tightened its requirements for Taiwan-bound Filipino workers. In response, President Benigno Aquino III sent as an emissary to Taiwan, his running mate in the May 10 elections — former senator and defeated vice presidential candidate Manuel "Mar" Roxas II — to polish relations between Philippines and Taiwan. The 14 Taiwanese nationals along with 10 Chinese were deported even after the Justice Department junked the complaints filed by the NBI. DOJ prosecution attorney Gerard Gaerlan said there was no sufficient evidence to charge the 24 suspects with estafa and with violation of Republic Act No. 8484, or the Access Devices Regulations Act of 1998. Including the 14 Taiwanese, the NBI arrested a total of 24 foreigners in two separate areas late last year: in Bel Air Village in Makati City, and in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City. The foreigners were supposedly engaged in a multi-million dollar criminal activity using the Internet and telecommunications devices. — with Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMA News