Rank-and-file employes of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) were asking President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to appoint right now the new head of the agency to effectively carry its task of safeguarding the country's borders from unwanted alien visitors.
Insiders who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic said many officials and employees "could not focus" on their respective assignments as they continue discussing and speculating on who would finally get the plum post.
They also requested Marcos to appoint an insider who is "already knowledgeable" about the bureau's operations and one who no longer needs to learn and familiarize himself with the job ahead.
The appeal followed fake reports circulating on social media that the President had already chosen a former university dean for the position.
Presently, the bureau is run by an officer-in-charge who, according to many insiders, was "hesitant to act forcefully" or decide on major issues.
This was the reason, they said, why the bureau issued only two press statements since the resignation of former Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente months ago.