Philippine Immigration

Professionalism in the delivery of public service by employees of the Bureau of Immigration earned praises from the Chinese Ambassador to Manila.

Chinese Ambassador to Manila Song Tao today cited employees of the Bureau of Immigration for “high degree of professionalism” in handling the deportation of a Chinese fugitive who was at large for several years, until now. In a letter dated June 18, 2008 to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Song cited “laudable efforts made for the deportation by the Bureau of Immigration” of Cai Wenxian, a Chinese national involved in the “heinous crime of smuggling and wanted by China’s Anti-Smuggling Authority.”

In a statement, BI Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan described the Chinese Ambassador’s citation as a terstimonial of the efficiency on and dedication of BI employees to their jobs.

“At the BI a new meaning of dedication to service has started to take roots and this recognition by the Amnbassador Song encourages us the more to be change agents in the BI’s definition of public service,” Libanan said.

Libanan was himself cited by Song as the Chinese ambassador said Libanan “has made notable achievements after his assumption of his post” at the BI.

Song said “the successful deportation further demonstrates the Philippine government’s adherence to justice and its consistent policy that the Philippine soil will never be used as the refuge by foreign fugitives to escape prosecution.”

“I earnestly look forward to the continous cooperation of our two countries in the field of combating transnational crimes including immigration regulation. I am highly convinced that we will make much greater success in future with our unremitting efforts on law enforcement issues,” he added.

Sources inside the BI said the bureau has received numerous citations from other countries and individual foreign visitors for the changes that have made BI friendly to its principal clientelle, foreigners visiting the Philippines.

Massive structural and systems reforms were put in place by Libanan when he assumed leadership of BI leading to processes simplification. “It is now a lot easier to deal with the BI these days,” same sources said, adding that fixers were rendered useless and are now history. (BI News)

Source: Bureau Of Immigration News