ANOTHER unauthorized approval?
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles yesterday said President Marcos Jr. ordered the National Bureau of Investigations and the Philippine National Police to look into a reported issuance of a presidential appointment in the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The directive was issued to the NBI through Justice secretary Crispin Remulla and to the PNP through the Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. and aims to determine the origin of the fake document, its validity, and those behind it, Angeles said.
Earlier this month, Malacañang ordered an investigation into what it said was an “illegal” order allowing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar. Angeles had said that the President did not approve the importation.
In the latest case, the supposed appointment paper, dated July 22 and purportedly signed by the President, states that lawyer Abraham G. Espejo Jr. was appointed as BI commissioner.
Angeles the other day said “no appointment has yet been made to the position of immigrations commissioner.” She reiterated yesterday that no document has been issued, after checking with the Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Management Staff, and Office of the President.
“We haven’t seen the original copy, if any. What we can say is a document saying there has been an appointment appeared, but no appointment exists in the records,” she said in Filipino.
Angeles said Malacañang is reminding everyone that forging the government’s seal, the President’s signature and stamp in any document is a crime. She said Article 161 of the Revised Penal Code states that the forging of the government seal and the signature and stamp of the President carries a penalty of reclusion temporal or 12 to 20 years imprisonment.
Angeles said media agencies that came up with stories on the supposed appointment and have copies of the supposed appointment papers can help provide information to the investigation.
Angeles also said falsification of documents and use of forged materials “can cause instability.”
