Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Monday denied corruption allegations in the bureau, including the supposed mishandling of cases related to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.

In a press statement, Viado dismissed as “patently false” the accusations purportedly contained in a letter sent by BI employees to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week, wherein they supposedly accused the BI chief of corruption.

“For the record, I unequivocally state that all the allegations contained in the alleged ‘white paper’ are patently false,” he said.

“Should any pertinent agency of the national government decide to look into the supposed ‘allegations,’ I reiterate the commitment of the Bureau to lend its fullest support,” he said.

BI employees — who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns of retaliation from Viado — allegedly submitted a letter to the Office of the President (OP) to report the supposed corrupt practices under the present BI leadership including the mishandling of POGO-related cases and their deportation.

Malacañang has yet to confirm receipt of the letter dated June 2 but a supposed copy of it showed that it was received by the OP on June 5, 2025.

Viado dismissed the letter as part of a “smear campaign.” He also accused a senior BI official of fueling the propaganda after the BI chief supposedly rejected his request to release a Chinese national linked to a powerful political figure from the previous administration.

“I was also told that my rejection of the plea by this person to release the said Chinese national may have fueled the smear campaign. I have disregarded these warnings because the mandate I accepted was never about protecting myself, but about cleaning up a system long plagued by abuse. If the price of reform is to be the target of black propaganda, then so be it,” he said.

Viado warned of exposing the parties behind the alleged smear campaign in “due time.”

“I have assured those who have expressed their concern over the threats from these interests that no amount of smear will stop us from continuing our efforts at reforms in the agency,” the BI chief said.

“It is unfortunate that these interests are using the name of the hardworking men and women of the bureau to mask themselves and their hideous agenda. I warn these parties in turn that they shall be exposed in due time. The public deserves the truth and the truth will stand,” he added.

Source: GMA Network