Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado has denied corruption allegations raised by some Bureau of Immigration (BI) employees, calling them “patently false” and part of an “orchestrated and well-funded campaign” to discredit him.
The accusations, which reportedly involve ties to now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), have been escalated to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Viado claimed the complaints may be linked to a senior BI official he previously refused to help release a Chinese national connected to a former political figure.
He said the smear campaign is possibly being fueled by a few disgruntled employees affected by the bureau’s one-strike policy.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said it would not launch an investigation without credible evidence, calling the current claims too vague.
Source: PhilNews24 | June 10, 2025
