BI EXEC BELIES 'HARBORING' CHINESE DRUG TRAFFICKER

A ranking official of the Bureau of Immigration who was earlier accused of
"harboring" am alleged Chinese drug trafficker yesterday denounced the
report, blaming the controversy on the "rift" between him and Immigration
officials belonging to the BI's Intelligence department.

Immigration Associate Commissioner Teodoro Delarmante yesterday assailed
the three intelligence officials including their chief for issuing reports
that he harbored and ordered the release of a Chinese who was nabbed after
being suspected of engaging in illegal drug activities.

Delarmente, in a press statement, said he ordered the release of Li Yong
Cheng because of the "highly suspicious and irregular" operation the
intelligence agents conducted last Saturday against the Chinese.

He explained that, "Neither BI intelligence division chief lawyer Faizal
Hussin nor his three agents - Ansari Macaayan, Maclin Lanto and Andrian
Mangondato, mentioned in their pre-operation report that Li was a suspected
drug trafficker."

"They only stated in the report that Li was subject to verification for
being a reported undocumented and illegally working alien," Delarmente
stressed.

He added Li's arrest was also illegal because the order the agents used was
based on a memorandum order, not a mission order from BI Commissioner
Alipio Fernandez Jr.

Delarmente claimed the intelligence agents were trying to get back at him
after he asked Fernandez to issue a memorandum stopping them from
conducting operations against illegal foreigners without a mission order or
authority from the BI chief due to complaints of alleged extortion.

It was learned that Fernandez had designated Delarmante as associate
commissioner-in-charge of the BI's intelligence activities.

Meanwhile, Hussin and the three agents belied Delarmante's claims and stood
pat on their statements that the associate commissioner harbored the
alleged drug trafficker.

"We are ready to file charges against him (Delarmente) and face him court
to determine who is telling the truth. Our operation against Li is no doubt
legitimate contrary to his claims," Macaayan said.

On the agents "after-mission report," they stated last June 26, they
arrested Li in his electrical shop located along V. Serrano Street in
Caloocan City based on Philippine National Police report that the Chinese
was operating an electrical supply shop which he used as a front for
illegal drug trafficking activities.

Li was taken on the same day to the BI intelligence office in Intramuros
before Delarmente appeared and scolded the three agents for apprehending
the alien before he ordered for Li's release.

"Li said his lawyer will arrive to talk to us, but after one hour, it was
Commissioner Delarmente who went to the intelligence division and ordered
us for his release," Macaayan noted.

The three admitted in the report that the release of Li was illegal and
highly irregular considering the gravity of the Immigration violations he
committed.

"The incident has affected our morals and we are saddened because
Delarmente, being our 'Boss,' should have defended our action instead of
ordering the release of the subject and scolding us in the presence of the
violator," the agents said in their report.