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VILLANUEVA SLAMS FORMER BI OFFICIALS AT BLUE RIBBON HEARING: Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, slammed former Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioners Atty. Al Argosino and Atty. Michael Robles during the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the alleged BI bribery scandal. Villanueva stressed that based on the Administrative Code of 1987 and the Philippine Immigration Act, there is no provision of law that grants power to Argosino and Robles to conduct investigations. Villanueva further pointed out that the BI officials are only granted adjudicatory powers to decide all deportation cases, as well as appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the BI Board of Special Inquiry. Villanueva also reminded Immigration Commisioner Jaime Morente on the Bureau's role in issuing special working permits, and urged the Bureau to work with him in curbing those who have illegally taken jobs from the Filipino people.