Representatives from the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research together and Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organizations filed the petition at the Court of Appeals on Tuesday, just several hours after De Vries took his flight to Amsterdam following the Bureau of Immigration’s Order to Leave.
“It has only been a few hours since Otto was sent home but we remain steadfast in fighting against what we believe to have been an unjust decision made by the Bureau of Immigration,” Rochelle Porras, Executive Director of EILER said.
“We know Otto personally and his dedicated in upholding workers’ rights and welfare is admirable. We continue to uphold that the malicious allegations against Otto are without any concrete basis. To accuse him of such after 30 years of genuine service to the poor working people of the Philippines is a disgrace,” Malou Fabella, Secretary General of ANGLO.
The Board of Commissioners of the BI denied De Vries’ motion for reconsideration last March, leaving him no choice but to voluntarily exit the country until May 5 or he will be deported.
“The Bureau’s decision is without valid and legal cause that is why we will take the battle to the courts,” Porras added.
The petition seeks to reverse the BI Orders dated November 2020 and February 2021 and reinstate the permanent resident visa of De Vries, which will allow him to stay in the Philippines.
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