Information on Status of Cases Wherein Hold-Departure Orders had been Issued

January 27, 1999

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 8-99

 

The Commissioner of Immigration has apprised this Office, through a letter dated 5 January 1999, that, as of December 1998, there are 25,501 names of persons in the hold-departure list of the Bureau of Immigration. These persons are the subject of hold-departure orders issued by the Regional Trial Courts as well as by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts prior to Circular No. 39-97 dated 19 June 1997. The Commissioner of Immigration states that the Bureau intends and proposes the mass lifting of the hold-departure orders which are already ten (10) years old or more.

In order to obviate complaints from party litigants that hold-departure orders have been inactivated or lifted although the criminal cases in which they had been issued are still pending or active, it is hereby directed that information be sent to the Commissioner of Immigration* as to the status of the criminal cases to which these hold-departure orders pertain. The Clerks of Court of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts should furnish information on hold-departure orders issued by their respective courts prior to Circular No. 39-97 dated 19 June 1997.

Information sent to the Commissioner of Immigration should include the complete name (including the middle name) of the person subject of the hold-departure order, the complete title and the docket number of the criminal case in which the said hold-departure order was issued and the status of the said case as of the most recent date. Should there be any order issued by the court lifting the hold-departure order, a copy thereof shall also be furnished the Commissioner of Immigration. AEIcSa

For strict compliance.

(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt AdministratorOffice of the Court Administrator