Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison on Wednesday clarified the functions of associate commissioners Gilberto Repizo and Abdullah Mangotara who were now given significant authority to cut red tape to serve the growing clients at the bureau.
The clarification was made following the issuance of an order from the Department of Justice reinstating the authority of Repizo who was designated as “commissioner-in-charge” of the border control operations of all ports in the country.
“Repizo is cluster head, commissioner-in-charge of the Border control operations of all ports in the country, while Mangotara is cluster head and designated as commissioner-in-charge of the security and intelligence division,” Mison said.
Under DoJ department order 911, Repizo can re-assign or rotate personnel of the border control cluster take any disciplinary action or suspend with prior written approval of the Secretary of Justice.
“He has authority to rotate personnel directly or indirectly connected with border control operations,” the DoJ stated.
Mison is mandated to perform as head of the bureau such as to issue memoranda, issue order and lift the bureau’s Black list order, watchlist, hold departure and other immigration matters.
Meanwhile, the immigration authorities held nine Chinese tourists who tried to enter the country with fake visas and other travel documents at the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte.
Repizo also ordered the relief of Immigration officer Perry Michael Pancho who cleared the nine Chinese but were intercepted during secondary inspection.
Pancho was recalled to the Port Operations Division in Manila, Repizo said.
The Chinese, onboard a chartered airline from Guangzhuo, China, arrived at the Laoag airport last Nov. 28, 2015, to spend their holiday but their documents prepared by a China-based travel agency turned out to be fictitious.
The Chinese were now detained at the BI Warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa and awaiting deportation.