President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed Tuesday that he is reviewing corruption allegations within the Bureau of Immigration (BI), though he noted the difficulty of investigating unsigned and vague reports.
“We’re looking into it,” Marcos said, but added that white papers lacking signatures and specific details make thorough investigation challenging.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado has already denied the accusations, which allegedly came from anonymous BI employees. The letter reportedly detailed corruption under his leadership, particularly in handling cases involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Viado called the claims “patently false” and labeled them part of a smear campaign. He further alleged that a senior BI official was behind the accusations after Viado refused to release a Chinese national connected to a political figure from the previous administration.
In a separate press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro urged whistleblowers to submit evidence, even anonymously, to support a deeper investigation.
“We encourage anyone with complaints to submit evidence, whether or not you reveal your identity,” Castro said.