A Bureau of Immigration (BI) agent has been relieved from his duties after being arrested for allegedly engaging in an extortion operation in Mandaue City. The incident was confirmed by the BI and the police on May 6, 2026.
According to a report from the Regional Police Office 7, an entrapment operation was conducted on May 5 against the 61-year-old BI agent inside a restaurant along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue. The operation was based on a complaint filed by a 43-year-old South Korean national, who alleged that the agent demanded protection money from him.
During the operation, the Korean national pretended to comply with the suspect's demand and met with the BI agent. When the agent accepted the money, he was immediately handcuffed and arrested.
Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued a relief order against the arrested agent and said that appropriate charges are being prepared. In a press release, Viado emphasized that the agency strictly adheres to a zero-tolerance policy against employees involved in illegal activities or corruption.
