FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio

LAUNDERED AS LAWYER’S FEES

When an immigration lawyer accepts to represent a client in applying for an immigration benefit, such as lawful permanent residence or asylum, with the intent to defraud the United States government by submitting false documentation and committing acts of misrepresentation, then such lawyer is criminally liable and thereby subject to prosecution. If it’s confirmed that Filipino fugitive, Joc Joc Bolante, filed an asylum application because of fear of being assassinated by a rebel group in the Philippines based on false documents, his lawyer who is known to be connected to Azulay, Horn and Seiden LLC dubbed as “second largest law office in the United States” takes the hot seat.

It was reported that Bolante’s lawyer recently filed a writ of habeas corpus before the U.S. District Court in Illinois. Maybe it’s because his lawyer failed to get him released from mandatory detention. If this so-called second largest law office in the country knowingly and willfully filed the writ despite the fact that Bolante, a fugitive from justice, is a flight risk, these high-profiled lawyers may have filed an abusive petition and therefore should be disciplined. An abusive petition for a writ of habeas corpus aims to delay or obstruct justice, particularly if Bolante is being charged of a serious crime as money laundering that threatens the national security of the United States.

My good advice to Bolante’s extra-expensive lawyers is to give up on the Filipino fugitive and let him be deported to the Philippines for criminal prosecution. Else, they may be suspected of feasting on Bolante’s “dirty money” laundered as lawyer’s fees.

End
junpolicarpio@yahoo.com
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