BID official raps intel agents over arrest of Indian nationals

By Florence F. Hibionada

A formal complaint has been lodged against four Manila-based intelligence agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) following the recent arrest of Indian nationals in Concepcion, Iloilo.

The complaint came from no less than the highest official of the BID here who filed a report directly to BID Commissioner Alipio Fernandez.

Reinfred Tubal, BID 6 chief decried what he said was clearly an abusive way of carrying out an arrest within his area of responsibility even as he clarifies that for lack of personnel, he welcomes any outside help from other BID agents.  Such, Tubal stressed though, must conform to government-prescribed procedures unlike what occurred in Concepcion.

“On Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at around 0600 hours in the Municipality of Concepcion, Province of Iloilo, five (5) Indian nationals namely: Mekleet Singh; Surjeet Singh; Gurfreet Singh; Gurdiv Singh and Surchit Singh were arrested by Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Agents based at the Central Office. 

These agents were A. Maca-ayan, M. Lanto, J. Hinolan and C. Pedreña,” the report as obtained by The News Today stated.  “These agents did not pass through the BI Regional Office based in Iloilo City for coordination purposes.  It was established that subject Agents did not possess any Mission Order to the effect.  There was no investigation made; no invitation was made whatsoever and no details why the apprehension/arrest was made.”

And such, Tubal said in a TNT interview, the Agents’ operation is unacceptable reason why he will pursue the complaint in this week’s official trip to Manila alongside the copy of the report sent to the Department of Justice.

To recall, Tubal was instructed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. to ensure that proper procedures be employed in effecting the arrest of foreign nationals suspected of any immigration violations.  A standing order is also in place that calls for the observance of proper procedures in the conduct of the bureau’s corresponding operations.

The five Indian nationals were later to be brought by the apprehending BID team to Kalibo, Aklan where they were subsequently released the day after.
“We do not want this to happen again for this incident has brought a very negative impact on the Bureau,” Tubal ended.