MANILA, MARCH 11, 2011 (STAR) By Pia Lee-Brago – Taiwan welcomed President Aquino's appointment of a new Immigration chief and announced a relaxation of visa requirements for Filipino workers.
The development came on the heels of the deportation of a Taiwanese national involved in electronic fraud to Taiwan.
Aquino's former running mate and political adviser Manuel Roxas II (photo at right) has also been invited to return to Taipei for another round of talks on the diplomatic row sparked by Manila's deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals accused of fraud to China.
Taipei earlier ordered restrictions on visa requirements for Filipino workers after the deportation of the 14. The Philippines invoked its one-China policy to justify the deportation.
Former Armed Forces chief Ricardo David Jr. (photo below) replaced Bureau of Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma.
The Department of Justice also removed Faizal Hussin from his post as head of the BI Intelligence Division and appointed lawyer Maria Antoinette Bucasas Mangrobang as replacement.
"With these changes, the Philippine government has shown goodwill and regret," Taiwan Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang said on Wednesday in Focus Taiwan News Channel.
On March 9, Taipei said it would no longer require Social Security System cards from Filipino visa applicants.
"The Republic of China government announces the immediate relaxation of some visa application requirements for Filipino workers," he said.
Yang said Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amadeo Perez Jr. sent him a letter on Tuesday reassuring Taipei that Manila was taking steps to resolve the row over the deportation of the 14 Taiwanese.
But Taiwan said its other retaliatory measure – longer screening process for visa application from 12 days to four months – remains.
Aquino earlier sent Roxas on a mission to placate Taiwan and relayed the Philippines message of "deep regrets" for the deportation. But Taiwan rebuffed Roxas and said it would only accept a public apology.
Roxas' 2 Taiwan trip
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said Roxas has received an invitation to go back to Taiwan and that President Aquino has authorized the trip.
"We are happy to receive the invitation from Taiwan to continue on to Phase 2 of our consultations and bridge building efforts," Roxas said in a statement.
"This is in line with what we negotiated and agreed upon during my visit there two weeks ago to include recent negotiations by phone. I briefed the President on this and the new invitation as well as on the status of the other ongoing efforts. President (Aquino) gave his go-ahead for me to proceed thereon," Roxas, who is in Singapore with the President, said in a text message.
"As in my past mission, (the President's) primary instructions and concern were the welfare and safekeeping of our 90,000 OFWs there," Roxas said.
MECO chairman Perez said Roxas' visit would be on March 13 to 14. Roxas is going to Taiwan as a private negotiator because he does not have any official position in the Philippine government.
Manila does not have diplomatic relations with Taipei due to its one-China policy.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, meanwhile, said David's appointment was not meant to appease Taipei regarding the deportation row, as the former AFP chief was already being considered for the position even before the controversy erupted.
But Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday that the Philippine government was grateful for the development.
"(It's a) bonus in the sense that they have regarded the decision as a form of apology and if they took the appointment of General David as a form of apology, we will not argue with them on that," Lacierda said.
"Certainly, we welcome the decision of the Taiwan government to relax their restrictions," he said.
Lacierda said Taiwan's invitation for Roxas to go back to Taipei was "an indication on the part of the Taiwan government to further normalize the relations between the Philippines and Taiwan and this is to the credit of former senator Mar Roxas for his efforts."
Lacierda added it was good that Taipei would want to put behind the deportation incident and "we view that as a step in the right direction."
On March 8, a Taiwanese was deported, this time to Taiwan, for his involvement in electronic fraud after being arrested last Dec. 22 in Quezon City.
But Lacierda said this did not mean that the Philippine government made a mistake of deporting the 14 Taiwanese to Beijing.
"To the best of my knowledge, I think the identification of the Taiwanese national who was deported was very clear. So there was no issue at this point. We are not tying the two together, it's just that the deportation of Taiwanese (on March 8) was quite clear on his real nationality," Lacierda said.
He added that the Aquino government would let the investigation in the Senate and the case filed before the Court of Appeals to proceed to determine if lapses had been committed in the deportation of the 14 Taiwanese.
"These were the things that we mentioned to the Taiwanese authorities when former senator Mar Roxas was there. But their concerns are being addressed by these two bodies which are looking into it," Lacierda said.
He said he could not answer whether the deportation of the Taiwanese to Taiwan this time appeased Taipei.
Lacierda said Roxas' trip to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province, would not affect the Philippines' relations with China.
"China recognizes that we have economic and cultural relations with Taiwan. That's the reason why we have a MECO and a TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) dealing with each other. That is clear and they understand why we have to do this," Lacierda said. – With Aurea Calica, Rudy Santos
David named immigration chief By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated March 10, 2011 12:00 AM
[PHOTO - Ricardo David: Philippine armed forces Chief of Staff General Ricardo David testifies during a Senate inquiry on the investigation into corruption in the military, at the Senate headquarters in Manila February 18, 2011. Beside DAVID is Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco]
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed newly retired Armed Forces chief Ricardo David as the new immigration commissioner and tasked him to undertake reforms in the bureau just like he did in the military.
"Mr. David's integrity and professionalism will be instrumental in the efforts of the immigration authorities to cleanse its ranks and purge its services of past abuses and misuse of authority. The President is pleased that Mr. David is taking on these new challenges in the civilian sphere," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang yesterday.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is an attached agency of the Department of Justice and is currently headed by an officer-in-charge, Rolando Ledesma.
Lacierda said David would assume his post on Monday. He added it was the President who "signified his intentions to retain Mr. David in public service" after his retirement from the military last March 8 and that Aquino was happy that the former chief of staff accepted his offer.
"When he was chief of staff he brought a new image with respect to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Remember there were concerns on corruption, there were concerns on the involvement of the military in extrajudicial killings. Those things have been resolved by the general and, in fact, he is very open, if you remember he was the one who urged the military officials to testify before the Senate and House hearings," Lacierda said.
"We would expect General David (to) continue his management ability in immigration... to firm up and make sure that the agency is cleansed of its corrupt officials. This is, by the way, in line of our promise of a straight path and good governance," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said David would be coterminous with the President and that Ledesma would likely be back as chief of the Board of Special Inquiry.
Lacierda clarified that David's appointment did not have any connection with the deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals that caused a diplomatic rift between Taiwan and the Philippines.
"President Aquino said it was too early for Gen. David to retire. He was very pleased with his performance as the AFP chief of staff. He feels that his services are still needed in the government so he decided to appoint Gen. David as commissioner of immigration," Lacierda said, adding that Ledesma was just serving in acting capacity anyway.
"There was an intention to really find a permanent head of the commission on immigration. Nobody else was considered because he wanted Gen. David," he said.
Lacierda said the President would like the "rotten system" in the BI to be changed.
"Gen. David will look into one of the biggest concerns of the government – human trafficking," Lacierda said.
He also said David would make sure that no illegal aliens would be able to come to the country.
Greater heights
The military welcomed yesterday the appointment of David as immigration commissioner and is confident that he would do well in his first civilian assignment.
Armed forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said David's more than 37 years of military experience would be useful since immigration duties would entail law enforcement activities.
"I think he will be able to bring BI to greater heights," Mabanta told The STAR in a phone interview.
"He (David) is certainly qualified for the job. He was able to hone his law enforcement in the armed forces," he added.
Mabanta is optimistic that David would introduce reforms to the immigration bureau.
"We have known Gen. David to be a man of integrity, someone who is honorable and is after the attainment of his mission. He has initiated reforms in all his positions in the armed forces," he said.
On Tuesday, The STAR reported that President Aquino would appoint David as commissioner of the BI after he retires from the military service.
Sources told The STAR David was offered the post two weeks ago.
Last month, Aquino revealed that he was asking David to occupy a civilian post after he hangs up his uniform. David had expressed willingness to take Aquino's offer.
"He (Aquino) asked me if I want to serve under him. I said yes. I said I am still young, Mr. President. If I still have a use in your government, then I am very willing to serve," he said.
A member of Philippine Military Academy class '77, David held key military posts including commander of the 50th Infantry Battalion, 402nd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and the Northern Luzon Command.
He completed the basic management course from the Asian Institute of Management and has a master's in Business Administration from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.
Good soldier
Ledesma, for his part, yesterday said he would follow the orders of Malacañang and hand over the agency leadership to David.
"I was informed about Gen. David's appointment last Tuesday night," Ledesma said.
When asked for his comment on the sudden change, Ledesma said, "I have no sentiments (on the matter). Whatever the President says, I will follow. We should always respect the decision of the President."
He also said he was unaware if the appointment of David was related to the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to China. "I do not know. They did not give any reasons for the appointment of Gen. David."
Ledesma, appointed as BI officer-in-charge on July 29 last year, said that once David assumes the position as BI commissioner on Monday,
he would return to his old position as chairman of the agency's Board of Special Inquiry.
There are, however, speculations that Ledesma would be appointed as special assistant to the commissioner.
When asked if he would make any suggestions to David, the outgoing BI head said he would leave it to the incoming commissioner to make his own decisions.
During the eight months that he served as OIC, Ledesma implemented reforms in the agency to curb illegal activities in the bureau. Among these reforms were the removal of intelligence officers and the reduction of confidential agents from 1,000 down to almost 300.
Meanwhile, the Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (Pilmat) welcomed the appointment of David to the BI.
"The removal of Acting Commissioner Ledesma principally responsible for the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to China may be the punitive action Taiwan is asking as a form of apology," said Pilmat president Jackson Gan. – With Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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