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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Online court hearings for detained foreigners to prevent escape -- BI

Online court hearings for detained foreigners to prevent escape -- BI

Published Apr 10, 2025 04:24 am

With the approval of the courts, online court hearings are now being implemented for foreigners facing criminal cases and detained at the facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BI).

Trial Court.jpg

In a press briefing, BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said that online hearings were sought as an aftermath of the escape last March 3 of a South Korean national after attending a hearing on a estafa complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.

South Korean national Na Ikheon has been rearrested and his three BI escorts have been charged and dismissed from their posts.

“Ang ginagawa po natin ngayon ay nagrerequest po tayo sa mga korte na online na lang po ang kanilang mga hearing para maprevent ‘yung mga opportunities po na itakas itong mga foreign nationals na maaaring pong humarap sa mga kaso locally (We have requested the courts to allow online hearings for detained foreigners to prevent opportunities for them to escape),” Sandoval said. 

So far, Sandoval said that no court has denied the request of the BI for the online hearings.

On the dismissal of the three BI personnel, Sandoval said: “Kung dati po ay basta tinatanggal sa trabaho. Ngayon po ang ginagawa natin ay kinakasuhan natin ng kasong kriminal ‘yung mga erring na mga tauhan (Before we just fire them. Now, the BI also files criminal cases against erring personnel),” she also said.

She reminded that BI Commissioner Joel M. Viado is a lawyer and "he wants legal actions taken against immigration personnel for wrongdoings."

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Bureau of Immigration
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