BI EXEC IN HOT WATER FOR 'HARBORING' SUSPECTED CHINESE DRUG TRAFFICKER

A high-ranking official of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) could possibly
face administrative and criminal charges for allegedly "harboring" a
suspected undocumented Chinese drug trafficker during an operation two
weeks ago.

In a "after-mission report" submitted to BI Commissioner Alipio Fernandez
Jr. by BI Intelligence Division operatives Ansari Macaayan, Maclin Lanto
and Andrian Mangondato, they claimed it was BI Associate Commissioner
Teodoro Delarmante who "harbored" and ordered the release of a Chinese who
was the subject of a legitimate operation on the strength of a mission order.

Records showed that last June 26, the three agents were conducting a
verification operation against Li Yong Cheng, after he was reported
engaging in illegal drug trafficking aside from being an undocumented
foreigner.

They said Li has been a subject of a 30-day surveillance due to a report
from the Philippine National Police that he was operating an electrical
supply shop that he used as a front for illegal drug trafficking activities.

The BI agents then proceeded to Li's business establishment located at V.
Serrano Street in Caloocan City to verify the report.

They said they saw Li personally managing and operating an electrical
supply shop as earlier said in the report.

The three added when they asked Li to present his passports and Immigration
documents, the Chinese refused to show the documents and reportedly showed
arrogance which resulted in his arrest before he was taken to the BI
Intelligence Division Office in Intramuros.

During a check on the status of Li, the agents also found out that he was
an overstaying alien as his passport already expired in 2002.

On the same day, it was reported that Delarmente appeared on the same
office and scolded the three agents for apprehending Li before he ordered
for his release.

The agents said in the report that Delarmente even asked them if Li can be
allowed to get out of the country immediately as Macaayan said, "No sir,
because Li is undocumented and has no travel documents."

"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 stressed.

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 morale 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.

The three also asked for a meeting with Fernandez, Delarmente and lawyer
Faizal Hussin, chief of the BI Intelligence Division over the incident and
the operation.