Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday called upon legislators to amend current laws to eliminate legal loopholes that enable foreign fugitives to avoid deportation. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized the need for legislative intervention to establish clear and definitive prohibitions against these evasive tactics.

According to Philippines News Agency, Viado stated, "We need Congress to step in and introduce laws that prevent these delaying maneuvers. Without clear legal safeguards, we will continue to see fugitives manipulating the system," he said in a statement. Viado expressed the BI's readiness to collaborate with lawmakers to enhance and fortify immigration laws, ensuring that no individual can exploit the system for personal gain.

Viado's appeal follows the recent re-arrest of South Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon in Angeles City, Pampanga, where legal tactics employed by certain lawyers were uncovered, delaying deportation proceedings and allowing fugitives to remain in the country longer than necessary. He pointed out that some legal practitioners exploit the system by filing cases against their own fugitive clients, claiming they must stay in the Philippines due to "ongoing legal cases."

The BI chief warned, "If this goes unaddressed, then every fugitive will simply employ this tactic to delay their deportation or arrest. What will happen to us then?" He highlighted that many fugitives are wealthy, well-connected, and capable of hiring top legal experts who know how to navigate around the country's immigration laws.

With the current legal framework sometimes limiting the BI's actions, the department is collaborating with the Department of Justice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Supreme Court to ensure that legal proceedings cannot be exploited as a shield for criminals.