“Graham’s Christmas at Detention Center”
I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked
December 26, 2009
I am Graham Chua Lim. I was born here in Manila. I am married to a Filipina who bore me two children.
I have been declared by the Philippine Supreme Court to be a non-Filipino, however. I respect the decision of the Supreme Court.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) also stated that I am a Taiwanese national, even if Taiwan officials have already certified that I am not its citizen.
In effect, I am stateless. Where then will the Philippine Immigration officers deport me?
Meanwhile, as I await their decision, I have been imprisoned by Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials on the instigation of a powerful, moneyed businessman who is also involved in the national sport leadership.
I have openly questioned this guy’s legitimacy to head the national sports association (NSA) for basketball.
Being imprisoned for this belief in the guise of questions related to my citizenship is an unjust and inhuman.
A former Immigration chief has declared that my detention is illegal and a clear violation of human rights.
Indeed, if I am Chinese, as declared by the Supreme Court, then I should have been subjected to deportation.
Instead, I am serving time in prison and detained on the caprice of this businessman, whose idea of fairness, whether in business or sports, is to eliminate competition through a buyoff or intimidation.
I could not accept a buyoff or be intimidated for as long as what I am fighting for is right, just and fair.
I humbly chose to stand up to my principles and conviction. And my imprisonment is the price I have been paying until now.
Since December 7, I have incarcerated at the Bicutan Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City .
In the early afternoon of that day, I dutifully attended the initial hearing of a criminal case that I had filed at the Makati fiscal office against this moneyed and powerful businessman for falsification of documents related to the Bangkok Agreement that purportedly would have resulted in unity among the stakeholders/members in Philippine basketball.
At the end of the case’s first hearing, I was suddenly arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) - International Police (Interpol) division - and later was transferred to the immigration law enforcement and brought to the Bicutan Detention Center even as I requested for the presence of my lawyer to get more information regarding the warrant of deportation procedure. The request was turned down.
I am surprised that it was the Interpol who arrested me. It was as if I had been one of the most wanted criminals in the global community.
I was arrested by the Interpol through a memo issued by the DOJ coinciding with the hearing case of the FIBA Special Commission to be held in Switzerland regarding the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)’ complaint against the SBP under the leadership of this moneyed and powerful businessman regarding the Bangkok Agreement, which the BAP believed was not respected and followed.
To satisfy the demand of this businessman, the warrant of deportation was to be implemented immediately by the BI on July 20, 2009.
Today, I spent Christmas in prison for the first time in my life. It was also the second time that I was imprisoned in my life, the first one coming in March 2006 on the instigation of an official in the Philippine Olympic Committee and a politician who was a member of a National Sports Association.
For the first time, too, on Christmas, I was away from my loving and understanding Filipina wife and two teen-aged children who had looked forward to be with their parents as one family on this day of the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
As I lay down on my prison bed, I am more saddened than pained for the injustice that has befallen on me.
I am here at the Bicutan detention center for the principles and conviction that I stand for – and will continue to fight for our institution, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), which has been existent since 1936 – until my last breath.
I decry the inhuman treatment that this businessman instigated to humiliate me, if not totally break my spirit.
With God Almighty guiding me, my spirit is unbroken, though. I will hang on dearly to my principles, which can never be bought by the moneyed and powerful.
I may spend some more time in my detention, but I also know that someday, justice, too, will be served.
Sincerely,
Graham C. Lim
Secretary General
Basketball Association of the
Philippines (BAP)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel-Fax # +632-524 2522
cc: All BAP members
FIBA
I am Graham Chua Lim. I was born here in Manila. I am married to a Filipina who bore me two children.
I have been declared by the Philippine Supreme Court to be a non-Filipino, however. I respect the decision of the Supreme Court.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) also stated that I am a Taiwanese national, even if Taiwan officials have already certified that I am not its citizen.
In effect, I am stateless. Where then will the Philippine Immigration officers deport me?
Meanwhile, as I await their decision, I have been imprisoned by Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials on the instigation of a powerful, moneyed businessman who is also involved in the national sport leadership.
I have openly questioned this guy’s legitimacy to head the national sports association (NSA) for basketball.
Being imprisoned for this belief in the guise of questions related to my citizenship is an unjust and inhuman.
A former Immigration chief has declared that my detention is illegal and a clear violation of human rights.
Indeed, if I am Chinese, as declared by the Supreme Court, then I should have been subjected to deportation.
Instead, I am serving time in prison and detained on the caprice of this businessman, whose idea of fairness, whether in business or sports, is to eliminate competition through a buyoff or intimidation.
I could not accept a buyoff or be intimidated for as long as what I am fighting for is right, just and fair.
I humbly chose to stand up to my principles and conviction. And my imprisonment is the price I have been paying until now.
Since December 7, I have incarcerated at the Bicutan Detention Center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City .
In the early afternoon of that day, I dutifully attended the initial hearing of a criminal case that I had filed at the Makati fiscal office against this moneyed and powerful businessman for falsification of documents related to the Bangkok Agreement that purportedly would have resulted in unity among the stakeholders/members in Philippine basketball.
At the end of the case’s first hearing, I was suddenly arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) - International Police (Interpol) division - and later was transferred to the immigration law enforcement and brought to the Bicutan Detention Center even as I requested for the presence of my lawyer to get more information regarding the warrant of deportation procedure. The request was turned down.
I am surprised that it was the Interpol who arrested me. It was as if I had been one of the most wanted criminals in the global community.
I was arrested by the Interpol through a memo issued by the DOJ coinciding with the hearing case of the FIBA Special Commission to be held in Switzerland regarding the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)’ complaint against the SBP under the leadership of this moneyed and powerful businessman regarding the Bangkok Agreement, which the BAP believed was not respected and followed.
To satisfy the demand of this businessman, the warrant of deportation was to be implemented immediately by the BI on July 20, 2009.
Today, I spent Christmas in prison for the first time in my life. It was also the second time that I was imprisoned in my life, the first one coming in March 2006 on the instigation of an official in the Philippine Olympic Committee and a politician who was a member of a National Sports Association.
For the first time, too, on Christmas, I was away from my loving and understanding Filipina wife and two teen-aged children who had looked forward to be with their parents as one family on this day of the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
As I lay down on my prison bed, I am more saddened than pained for the injustice that has befallen on me.
I am here at the Bicutan detention center for the principles and conviction that I stand for – and will continue to fight for our institution, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), which has been existent since 1936 – until my last breath.
I decry the inhuman treatment that this businessman instigated to humiliate me, if not totally break my spirit.
With God Almighty guiding me, my spirit is unbroken, though. I will hang on dearly to my principles, which can never be bought by the moneyed and powerful.
I may spend some more time in my detention, but I also know that someday, justice, too, will be served.
Sincerely,
Graham C. Lim
Secretary General
Basketball Association of the
Philippines (BAP)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel-Fax # +632-524 2522
cc: All BAP members
FIBA