Atty. Abellon arrested

NBI officer nabbed for extortion


By Gerome M. Dalipe

Saturday, May 25, 2013

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 yesterday arrested a legal officer of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) 7 for allegedly extorting P25,000 from an American national in exchange for his visa extension.

NBI 7 Director Antonio Pagatpat said a joint team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Manila and the NBI Central Visaya caught Serafin A. Abellon, BI legal officer, in an entrapment.

Abellon was arrested while in the act of accepting the bribe money from the foreigner inside his office in Mandaue City yesterday morning.

“We will file charges of robbery, extortion and violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Pagatpat told reporters.

The NBI 7 withheld the identity of the American for his security.

Abellon was brought to the NBI 7 where he awaited the filing of criminal complaints before the City Prosecutor’s Office in Mandaue City.

Abellon, of St. Louis Village in Barangay Tabuc-Tabuc, Dumaguete City, refused to give a statement to the media after his blood pressure reportedly rose while inside the NBI 7 ofrice.

In an interview, Pagatpat said Abellon had demanded P25,000 from the American “in consideration for his visa extension in Cebu.”

The tourist had given Abellon P10,000 as initial payment.

The immigration lawyer was to receive the balance of P15,000 in his Mandaue office.

Abellon, who is assigned at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, is set to retire from service in a year or two, NBI 7’s Pagatpat said.

The American, who is married to a Filipina and has been living in Cebu for several years, declined to talk to reporters.



NBI-Central Visayas officer nabbed for extortion | Sun.Star


No comment from OP.

Larry

 

"The NBI 7 withheld the identity of the American for his security." I am guessing Abellon remembers.

"In an interview, Pagatpat said Abellon had demanded P25,000 from the American “in consideration for his visa extension in Cebu.” Talk about inflation, that is twice what I paid there 5 years ago...

"Abellon, who is assigned at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, is set to retire from service in a year or two, NBI 7’s Pagatpat said."
Well, that is a convenient way to avoid paying a pension, this sideline stuff has been going on forever and all of a sudden a guy is retiring and he is busted? I have seen that enough times here for it to be a pattern.

Dealing with immigration every 60 days is a real pain in the neck for part time residents. Why not just pay at the airport when you leave for the time you were here? Maximize money taken in and save a lot of labor and paperwork.

 

I just hope that American has the smarts to get outa "Dodge",, that has been going on in Immigration in Cebu for a long time and i'm sure other people there are just as much involved and knew what was going on, he has pissed in Abellons's corn flakes and sure some others as well..

 

The American might need to keep his head down for a while and not draw attention to himself, but I give him 10 out of 10 for having the balls to stand up for himself and make a challenge. If no-one changes then nothing changes. On a daily basis, Filipinos in positions of authority or influence rip off other Filipinos who are less fortunate. Corruption here is not just widespread, it's a chronic infestation. When it comes to any official dealings with foreigners, very often there is no problem present but they will be told that there is, or that there is some delay, but for a financial consideration they are able to "fix things and speed everything up". Other than the events on EDSA a quarter of a century ago, Filipinos are not known for complaining, but many foreigners are just as guilty of complacency, preferring to roll over and submit to rip-off and price gouging just because "that's the way things are here". This guy wasn't, and made a stand. Good luck to him and I hope others have the guts to do the same.

 

There is nothing like a part time resident. you are a tourist and should be glad to stay that long with little effort. You certainly did not stay in any other country for a longer time if you call the procedure here pain in the back.

Have your copies ready, fill in the form, hand it over with the payment.

Go for lunch.

pick new stamp and passport after lunch.

not more than 15 minutes total at the immigration office in Dumaguete needed.

Why not at pay at the airport?

Well, enjoy missing flights while falling in line with all who don't have enough money with them or "didn't know", and start discussions how things should be done... etc. There are too many greedy and broke foreigners here who take things for granted and are surprised why they need to pay for service they receive.

But that's just me, cause I am OK to stay here for about 2$ a day (average immigration fees when staying a year, or so) and 15 minutes in an aircon office each 2 month.

 

Ok, but what has that got to do with a corrupt immigration officer robbing ppl for years.I was there for an exit visa i was taken upstairs and was told that i had no need to go out to hong kong for 20th i could have balikbayan , when i said i have my ticket already the price came down to 10th. I did not take the deal they were not happy lol
CHEERS

 

It's BS like this clown that put me off living in the Philippines. Might do it.....fortunately many relatives are doing well...to very well... so I don't expect hassles from them...but the daily grind of anti-scam in almost every aspect of life....puts me off - but I reckon keep a low profile, indulge in our hobbies, get out frequently, and hope we stay off scumbag radars. We just spent a couple weeks touring Japan. Different world there, but we are still pinching ourselves...were we dreaming? Did we die and briefly go to heaven? Everything worked...the people were the kindest and nicest, most helpful and industrious we've ever seen...anywhere on the planet (and we have been around). Honestly, if I could get a Japanese residence visa...we'd sell everything we own - and move there instantly. It's that good. Post WW2 both countries were suffering...one chose the right path...the other one didn't.

 

First of all I am not a tourist. I am a permanent resident. Second, Is it just me or is there always someone ready to jump down someone elses throat on this site at the suggestion of change for the better? I do not profess my thought to be taken as rule of law, merely a suggestion. Are you referring to the immigration office on Locsin street? Airconditioned and 15 minutes is not something I or my family have ever experienced there, helpful people to be sure but we must have visited different offices. I went to the one that was quite warm, dark and filled with people and no numbering system to know who goes where. or when. If I am the only one who thinks the process could be improved then forget everything I posted. I can not speak for any "greedy and broke foreigners" but we put a lot of Pesos into the local economy here every year and being sometimes treated like a second class person here leads me to suggest improvements. Obviously some could be made otherwise we would not be posting in a thread about a immigration officer being arrested and charged with corruption?

 

Watch and ajust your expectations

It is tough to adjust, but if you watch what is going on it gets simpler. The long lines and wait times can be avoided by selecting the time of day you go in to the immigration office. Since eating and leaving work seems to be a Filipino priority at most times, then I go in about an half hour before lunch, and half hour before closing. The staff has a tendency to work a little faster and the crowds are definitely not present in the late afternoon usually. Expecting something to be taken care immediately is also an fantasy in the Philippines. The before lunch stop, can include coming back after you eat lunch to pick up anything. Waiting for something to be processed can make that dark, warm office a little unbearable. I find a friendly smile always help when working with the staff, and it seems to help my day also.
You are not far off in your assessment of things here, just may be easier to adjust your expectation than trying to train a Filipino to your standards. I have been more successful in training Imp, my cat, than most Filipinos here to perform to my expectations. Just to put that in perspective cats are not easy to train as they have a tendency to ignore you... opps just like a Filipino.
But you are right, this tread is about a corrupt individual being caught not training Filipinos or cats.

 

The immigration people here in DGT do what appears to be the impossible. with the huge growth of the non-Filipino population they still seem to chug along with the same staff for many years.
Remember JFK's quote saying "ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country"? Well, my country is currently the Philippines. I do what I can to help and have no great expectations.
I have had far more trouble with foreigners here than Filipinos.