DOJ calls on Congress to pass law vs. 'demanda-me' scheme

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass a law against the demanda-me scheme, a ploy where foreign nationals file cases against themselves to avoid being deported out of the country.

According to the DOJ, this is because a pending complaint or case in the prosecutor’s office or in court will prevent the deportation of a foreigner.

“We respectfully seek the wisdom of the Congress and Senate to pass legislation to stop this abusive practice,” the DOJ said in a statement.

“The DOJ is willing to provide all the necessary statistics, case studies, and other relevant information for consideration of the esteemed congressmen and senators,” it added.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla first bared the scheme during the “Luffy” controversy, where the government sought to deport four Japanese who were suspected of being masterminds of illegal activities in Japan.

Remulla had said he believed that some of the pending cases filed against the Japanese nationals were contrived to prevent them from being deported.

The Justice Secretary again brought up the scheme before the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the department’s budget.

According to the DOJ, the department observed a pattern where after fugitives are taken into custody by the Bureau of Immigration, cases are immediately filed against those detained at the detention center.

“Usually, the cases are that of ‘violence against women and children’ or estafa. Yet, upon strict scrutiny of the evidence on hand as well as intelligence reports, it is found that these cases are either very weak or absolutely fabricated,” the DOJ said.

“As such, the filing of weak or fabricated cases is their desperate attempt to stay their deportation,” it later added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News