President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Tuesday Malacañang is investigating allegations of corruption and misconduct against Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, who categorically denied the charges.
An anonymous complaint letter submitted to Malacañang on June 2 accused Viado of improperly handling cases involving the defunct Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and the deportation of illegal foreign workers.
The letter claimed that Viado’s actions could lead to “significant corruption problems” that may damage the administration’s image, which Marcos said he could not simply ignore.
“Of course, we’re looking at it. But, you know, it’s hard to study a white paper that was not signed and there’s no specifics,” Marcos told reporters in an interview. “Nonetheless, we’re looking into it and will continue to do that,” he added.
Viado has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “patently false.” He dismissed the complaint as the work of “shadowy characters hiding behind the mask of concerned employees” and a “well-funded campaign” to discredit him and the BI.
“For the record, we have been warned about the possible retaliation coming from vested interests whose erstwhile prolific underground operations at the BI have been thwarted and halted by our ongoing reforms,” the immigration chief said on Monday.
“No amount of smear will stop us from continuing our efforts at reforms in the agency,” Viado said. “I warn these parties in turn that they shall be exposed in due time. The public deserves the truth and the truth will stand,” he added.
