Repizo clarifies ‘dismissal’ claims

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Board of Special Inquiry (BSI) chief Gilberto Repizo clarified Friday that he was not removed from his post but instead transferred to another government agency.

In a radio interview, Repizo said that he was reassigned to the main office of the Department of Justice (DoJ), addressing earlier reports of his dismissal by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.

“First of all, we acknowledge the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Justice in issuing this kind of order,” Repizo said.

“This is because the DoJ has supervision and administrative control over the Bureau of Immigration, including the NBI and the Bilibid prison, so this authority falls under the powers of our secretary,” he added.

However, Repizo cited that he had submitted a letter to Remulla on Thursday, informing him of his intent to explore “remedies under the rules of Civil Service” and stressed that this action was not meant to show disrespect or disobedience to the order.

“For now, I am still functioning because under the CSC rules, I am given a specific number of days to present my position regarding my transfer to another agency,” he added.

Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation into alleged corruption and misconduct by BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

The allegations were detailed in an anonymous “white paper,” reportedly attributed to Repizo. The document questioned what Repizo claimed was “special treatment” given to certain foreign nationals by Viado, despite standing detention orders.