Philippine Immigration

In a Value for Money Audit done by the Commission on Audit for the government operations last year, the Bureau of Immigration was cited for the speedy disposition of detainees’ cases resulting in the dramatic decline in the number of detainees at the BI detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City.

In a report to Congress on its audit of operations of all government agencies, the COA cited BI’s success in reducing the number of detainees at the Bicutan detention center as “notable efforts of decongesting the BI Detention Center thru fast and rational resolution of cases.”

“This resulted in the reduction of expenses even as it eased the agony of waiting on the part of detainees,” the COA report added.

“Considering the short period the program was implemented that started in midway of 2007, the bureau accomplished a major task that is worth a commendation,” Reynaldo Villar, COA Chairman, said.

The COA cited the decrease in the number of detained aliens by 76 percent as of December 31, 2007 as proof that the decongestion program of the bureau through disposition of cases was effectively implemented.

The report also said that at the beginning of 2007, a total of 411 detainees were housed inside the facility but 314 cases were acted upon with dispatch.. 97 of these cases were dismissed, 109 foreigners were deported, 44 were placed under recognizance, 61 aliens were allowed to post bail, and 3 were transferred.

“We recommended that the bureau continue its notable efforts of decongesting the BI Detention Center thru fast and rational resolution of pending cases in order to reduce expenses and ease the agony of waiting on the part of the detainees,” COA report added.

Last May 2008, only 96 aliens were in detention at the Bicutan jail. (BI News)