Philippine Immigration

On his latest column, "On Target", Ramon Tulfo thanked Commissioner Marcelino Libanan for granting his request to release a Belgian national:

I’d like to thank Immigration Commissioner Marcelo Libanan for ordering the release, upon my request, of Belgian national Lucas Saeren.

Saeren’s Filipino wife, Rowena de la Cruz-Saeren came to us at “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo” asking my intercession for his release from the immigration jail.

Saeren has been in the immigration jail for five years.

His crime?

Overstaying.

Saeren’s release papers are now being processed.

Since he took over as immigration commissioner, Libanan has unclogged the overcrowded immigration jail in Bicutan by releasing foreigner-inmates who didn’t commit major crimes.

He also has looked after the welfare of inmates by giving medicines for the jail clinic and hiring an in-house doctor.

Libanan complains about the uncaring attitude of some embassies in the country that don’t send representatives to the immigration jail to inquire about the condition of their nationals.

(Source: On Target, Philippine Daily Inquirer)