MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he was looking into the allegations of corruption against Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, following a complaint submitted by anonymous employees of the agency.
Speaking to reporters in Malacañang, Marcos said the case was "hard to study" due to the lack of specifics in the white paper used as evidence he promised he would study the contents of the letter.
"Well, first, we're looking at it. But you know, it's hard to study a good white paper that was not signed and there's no specifics. But nonetheless, everything like this, we look into it and we will continue to do that," Marcos said in a media interview.
This comes in response to reports alleging bribery, deportation irregularities, and misconduct by Viado, particularly in relation to foreign nationals formerly employed in now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) hubs.
The gaming operators were ordered shut earlier this year by Malacañang over growing concerns about criminality and threats to national security.
Several employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have reportedly taken their grievances directly to Marcos, bypassing internal complaint mechanisms.
Reports said a letter sent to the Office of the President alleged Viado of corruption practices in handling the now-illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) and the deportation of foreigners.
The BI employees — who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns of retaliation from Viado —mentioned in the letter the alleged corrupt practices under the present BI leadership including the supposed mishandling of POGO-related cases and their deportation.
Viado denied the allegations, saying this was done by individuals whose underground operations were affected by the reforms in BI.
In a statement, Viado said the bureau had identified the individuals behind what he described as an "orchestrated and well-funded campaign" to cast the agency in a negative light.
He also vowed to "expose these parties at the appropriate time and venue." "For the record, I unequivocally state that all the allegations contained in the alleged 'white paper' are patently false," Viado said.
"For the information of our media partners, we have already identified the parties behind this orchestrated and well-funded campaign aimed at shoving the agency into negative limelight once again," he added.