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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS
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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 177 -
IMPOSING THE PENALTY OF DISMISSAL FROM THE SERVICE WITH FORFEITURE OF
ALL BENEFITS UNDER THE LAW OF BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
BAYANI M. SUBIDO, JR.
This is an administrative case filed by Mr.
Merlin J. Argos against Deputy Commissioner Bayani M. Subido, Jr. of
the Bureau of Immigration for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees for allegedly issuing a Special Work Permit (SWP) in favor of
Mr. John David Mitchell, an Australian national not legally entitled
thereto.
In its resolution, the Presidential Commission Against Graft and
Corruption (Commission) found the following:
"The
evidence on record shows that John David Mitchell, an Australian
national was indeed issued by respondent o Special Work Permit (SWP No.
BS-94-936) dated February 17, 1994, valid for three (3) months; and an
extension thereof (SWP No. BS-94-988). There is no question that both
SWP's were signed and issued by respondent.
"Pursuant to Personnel Order No.
452 dated January 21, 1994, issued by Commissioner Zafiro H. Respicio
of the BID, it appears that the respondent was not authorized to issue
SWP's. In the said Order, the authority to issue SWP's was granted
therein only to Atty. Regino S. Santiago . . . .
"But even granting that
respondent indeed had authority to issue SWP's, the issuance of SWP's
to John David Mitchell was made under highly suspicious circumstances
and the evidence on record shows that the issuance of the same by
respondent was irregular.
"In a memorandum dated June 28,
1994 regarding the complaint for deportation of Mitchell, which was
addressed to Commissioner Zafiro Respicio of the BID, Atty. Ronald G.
Deray, Legal Officer I of the BID, reported that after in investigation
conducted, he found . . . irregularities surrounding the issuance of
the SWP's . . . .
"Moreover, Law Instruction No.
20 dated 4 May 1988 by then BID Commissioner Miriam Defensor Santiago
provides that before the Law Division processes the application (for a
special work permit), or before the Commissioner's Office releases the
permit, the applicant shall file the CID cashier's receipt for the sum
of P300.00, plus an overtime fee of P200.00. The evidence of the
respondent shows that the application was filed on 17 February 1994;
the permit was released on the same day but the payment was made only
23 February 1994 or six (6) days after its release. moreover,
respondent failed to submit any evidence to prove that payment was made
for the extension of Mitchell's special work permit on 13 may 1994 . ..
"Finally, it should be noted
that special work permits are issued to aliens — temporary visitors —
who come to the Philippines for business. The business must be
commercial, industrial or professional in character, but does not
include coming for employment, or for clerical or manual work (Law
Instruction No. 27, may 25, 1988, BID Commissioner Miriam Defensor
Santiago). In the case of John David Mitchell, he was employed with
Givaudan Toure (Phils.) from January to December 1993 and as General
Manager, Fragrance Division, International Flavors and Fragrances
(Phils.), Inc., in January 1994 up to the filing of the complaint for
his deportation sometime in April 1994. Mitchell was, therefore, not
qualified for any Special Work Permit. What made matters worse was that
despite the pendency of the complaint for the summary deportation
against Mitchell sometime in April 1994, respondent, on 13 May 1994,
issued an extension of Mitchell's special work permit. Respondent's
acts were in violation of the internal rules and procedures of the BID
and of Sec. 3 (j) of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practice Act (R.A.
3019) which provides:
'Sec. 3.
j)
"ACCORDINGLY,
The Commission finds respondent Deputy Commissioner Bayani M. Subido,
Jr. of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) guilty of
violation of Sec. 3 (j) of R.A. 3019; of violation of the internal
rules of the BID, and of acting without and /or with grave abuse of
authority, and with evident bad faith in issuing special working permit
to an Australian national, John David Mitchell, who was not entitled
thereto and in order to frustrate the efforts of the BID to cause the
investigation and summary deportation of said John David Mitchell for
violation of labor laws."
After a review of the evidence on record, this Office concurs with the findings of the Commission.
Pursuant to Personnel Order No. 452, respondent herein was not authorized to issue Special Work Permits. Said Order, as certified to by the Personnel Officer of the Bureau of Immigration last September 30, 1994, has not been revoked, amended or superseded and remains to be valid as of said date. This notwithstanding, respondent issued a Special Work Permit to Mr. John David Mitchell and even extended by respondent himself, he had, as of July 8, 1994, issued 1,011 Special Work Permits.
It is worthwhile to point out to that part of the records of this case is a letter dated May 30, 1994 sent by Atty. Alfonso N. Navarro, Chief, Law and Investigation Division (LID), of the Bureau of Immigration, to Atty. Ronaldo P. Ledesma, resident ombudsman of the said Bureau, stating in detail the procedures for the filing and processing of special work permit, to wit:
xxx
"The following is the procedure
for the filing and processing of special work permit (SWP):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
However, as can be gleaned from the handwritten note dated May 31, 1994 of Ms. Doris Sipin of the Law and Investigation Division, attached to the above-mentioned letter; there is no record in the said Division of any application of SWP of one John David Mitchell received by LID between January to February 1994.
Moreover, in a letter dated May 20, 1994 also addressed to Atty. Ronaldo P. Ledesma, Ms. Maria Bella J. Estrada, Record Officer III of the Bureau of Immigration stated that as of said date, they have no record of Special Work Permit No. BS-94-936 issued to John David Mitchell.
The non-compliance of the above procedures not only shows respondent's violation of the Bureau's rules and regulations but also indicates irregularities in the issuance of the Special Work Permit in favor of Mr. Mitchell.
It must be stressed that respondent is a Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration. Holding such a high position, he should know or at least he is presumed to know all the rules and regulations of the Bureau which he is tasked to enforce and implement. As Deputy Commissioner, he is expected to strictly abide with these rules and regulations.
IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, and as recommended by the Presidential Commission Against Graft and Corruption, respondent Deputy Commissioner Bayani M. Subido, Jr. is hereby DISMISSED from the service for violation of Sec. 3 (j) of R.A. 3019 and of the internal rules and regulations of the Bureau.
Let the Office of the Ombudsman, which is investigation the criminal aspect of this case, be furnished a copy of the Administrative Order.
SO ORDERED.
Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of February in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety five.
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