Kimberly Capuyan

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. dismissed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco due to alleged lapses on dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s escape from the Philippines, the Malacañang confirmed on September 9.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine Star/Inquirer.net.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jose Crispin Remulla earlier revealed that he had recommended to Marcos his dismissal from employment and replacement because he was not satisfied with Tansingco’s performance.

“Nagkasundo na kami ng pangulo. Papalitan siya, papalitan siya,” Remulla said. 

“If I were him I would resign already,” he added. 

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez later confirmed that Tansingco’s dismissal “has already been approved by the President” in a text message to Palace reporters.

Remulla said he recommended Tansingco’s expulsionl because of “many issues,” including Guo’s exit from the country despite being on the immigration lookout bulletin.

He further cited Tansingco’s inaction to the reported issuance of working visas to fake corporations to bring in illegal gambling workers.

“I called his attention to it, wala siyang ginawa,” Remulla said.

"We completely lost any trust or confidence in him.”

Remulla reiterated he stopped talking with Tansingco when the latter failed to inform him 
immediately about Guo’s escape.

“That kind of behavior, it is not right for him not to inform the DOJ secretary about what is going on with your office,” he added.

Tansingco cited that he has not been officially informed yet of his dismissal from his post.

“You’re not informed that you’re being relieved or being transferred to another post? So nothing?” asked Sen. Francis Tolentino to Tansingco during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

“Not yet, Your Honor,” Tansingco replied, reiterating that he had only learned about the supposed decision through the media.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said there was no evidence that Tansingco abetted Guo’s escape.

Remulla, however, said the commission had "a very superficial view of the problems" within the agency.

"They do not know the actual score within the Bureau of Immigration," he said.

Remulla also claimed that Guo did not leave the Philippines on small boats but used planes, which he said to be either private planes or chartered flights. 

In an interview last August, Marcos warned that “heads will roll” if government personnel were found to have helped Guo escape the country.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the BI was aware of Guo’s departure but the agency kept her whereabouts from Marcos.

Guo was arrested by Indonesian authorities in Tangerang City, Banten province on Sept. 4. 

She was extradited from Indonesia to the Philippines last Sept. 6, and appeared at her first hearing since May on Sept.9.