Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jul 2004
Source: Daily Tribune, The (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 The Tribune Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact:  http://www.tribune.net.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2973
Author: Francis Jay M. Bilowan

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.
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