There is no truth to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioner Daniel Laogan's recent media statements concerning "amnesties" for illegal aliens in the Philippines, the BI itself has clarified.
In a statement issued Tuesday, August 8, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the BI has not submitted a proposal to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for such an amnesty, contrary to Laogan's statements that were published in the media.
“No such proposal has been submitted by the BI. We are an implementing agency, and amnesty would require a new law passed by Congress,” the commissioner, who is currently in Thailand for an ASEAN meeting of immigration departments and heads of consular affairs, said in the statement.
Laogan was quoted saying that amnesty is on its way for the 500,000 illegal aliens currently residing in the country. The BI was said to have a projected income of P2 billion in penalties and fines, if ever.
Tansingco said that some "unscrupulous" groups, apparently taking Laogan for his word, had already begun selling "slots" for the supposed amnesty.
“Such statements are unauthorized and figures are baseless... His statements are careless and dangerous,” the BI commissioner stressed.
Laogan is the last Deputy Commissioner to be appointed to the BI. He previously served as president of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. and Senior Adviser of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
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