MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Wednesday addressed media queries regarding allegations reportedly made by a fellow BI official implicating the agency in the alleged illegal entry and exit of foreign nationals.

In a statement, Viado said he will not respond to each allegation but instead welcomed the investigation led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, noting that all BI personnel have been instructed to fully cooperate.

“I prefer instead to leave the matter in the hands of the Honorable Senator Sherwin Gatchalian,” Viado said. “Our staff continue to prepare the documents that will be needed at the prospective hearings at the Senate.”

These include papers related to the case of Mr. Tony Yang and reported attempts to bypass immigration procedures at the country’s ports of entry and exit, Viado said.

The BI chief also commended the official who issued the allegations, noting that unlike anonymous “white papers,” this official signed his name on formal correspondence.

“It will be noted that the said official has chosen to affix his official signature… and I am sure he understands fully the legal implications of his actions,” Viado said. “His act of identifying himself… provides a stark contrast [to] black propaganda initiated by anonymous parties.”

He said the signed document allows authorities to summon the official for questioning and hold him accountable should he fail to prove his claims.

Viado also said the bureau has begun receiving documents from partner agencies relating to the alleged facilitation of questionable aliens, which will be forwarded to Senator Gatchalian and the Department of Justice.