Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to ramp up international cooperation to track and apprehend criminals who exploit backdoor exits, including those trafficking illicit tobacco and vape products.
According to Gatchalian, there have been increasing reports of illicit cigarettes being smuggled into the country. He had earlier filed a resolution seeking to probe this.
“In our experience with Guo Hua Ping a.k.a. Alice Guo, coordination with the international community is very important. Immigration offices in other countries are a vital source of information,” said Gatchalian at a recent Senate hearing.
Alice Guo, a Chinese national and former Tarlac mayor, was sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking tied to POGO operations. After fleeing, she was arrested by Interpol and returned to the Philippines through coordination with Indonesian authorities.
Gatchalian also said that Atty. Harry Roque, former Congressman Arnulfo Teves, and Atong Ang are believed to have evaded arrest by sneaking out through backdoor exits.
“The world now is literally borderless. Everyone na may high profile personality, may pera ay pwedeng magbayad para makalusot sa backdoor. The other method that we can do is to increase our coordination and information sharing,” he said.
Panawagan ni Gatchalian sa BI: Paigtingin pa ang ‘Cross-Border Coordination’ Kontra Iligal na Mangangalakal
Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) na paigtingin ang koordinasyon at pakikipagtulungan sa ibang bansa upang matunton at madakip ang mga kriminal na gumagamit ng mga ‘backdoor exit’ sa Pilipinas kabilang ang mga nagpupuslit ng mga iligal na sigarilyo at vape.
Ayon kay Gatchalian, dumarami ang naiuulat na mga iligal na sigarilyong naipupuslit sa bansa o smuggled na sigarilyo. Kamakailan lang ay naghain ang senador ng resolusyon upang imbestigahan ang lumalalang problemang ito.
“Sa naging karanasan natin kay Guo Hua Ping o Alice Guo, napakahalaga ng koordinasyon sa international community. Ang mga immigration office sa ibang bansa ay mahalagang pinagmumulan ng impormasyon,” ani Gatchalian sa isang pagdinig sa Senado.
Si Alice Guo, isang Chinese national at dating mayor sa Tarlac, ay hinatulan ng habambuhay na pagkabilanggo dahil sa human trafficking kaugnay ng operasyon ng POGO. Matapos tumakas, siya ay naaresto ng Interpol at naibalik sa Pilipinas sa tulong ng mga awtoridad sa Indonesia.
Sinabi rin ni Gatchalian na sina Atty. Harry Roque, dating Congressman Arnulfo Teves, at Atong Ang ay pinaniniwalaang pumuslit palabas ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng ‘backdoor exit.’
“Ang mundo ngayon ay literal na borderless. Ang sinumang high-profile personality na may pera ay pwedeng magbayad para lang makalusot sa backdoor. Kaya ang isang paraan na magagawa natin ay paigtingin ang ating koordinasyon at pagbabahagi ng impormasyon sa ibang bansa,” dagdag niya.
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