MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the dismissal of Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the Palace confirmed Monday.

"His dismissal has already been approved by the president," Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez told ABS-CBN News through a Viber message when asked about the sacking of Tansingco.

Tansingco's dismissal "had something to do with the departure of [dismissed Bamban mayor] Alice Guo," Chavez later told reporters.  

"This is also part of the commitment of the President that heads will roll because of that issue," he said. 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier in the day told ANC that he had spoken with Marcos about replacing Tansingco, who he accused of "not doing anything" about the alleged issuance of working visas to "fake" corporations that led to the entry of illegal gambling workers into the country.

Remulla also accused the immigration bureau of helping the escape of Guo and her supposed siblings. 

READ: Remulla wants Immigration chief replaced

The BI on Monday maintained that Guo and her alleged sister Shiela left the country "illegally without undergoing regular immigration inspection," adding that no Philippine stamps were found in their passports.

Guo was eventually arrested in Indonesia. 

She told the Senate committee on women on Monday that no immigration personnel nor Filipino officials had helped her flee the country.

Tansingco in the same hearing told senators that he learned of Remulla's desire to replace him through the media and that he had yet to be officially informed.

Guo faces graft, money laundering and human trafficking cases, as well as accusations of undesirability and misrepresentation for allegedly acquiring her Filipino citizenship through fraudulent means. 

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—With a report from Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News