MANILA, Jan. 31 -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) will go after lawyers of detained foreign nationals who initiate "contrived" criminal cases against their clients to stall deportation proceedings.

In an interview on Tuesday, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla cited the case of a male detainee who conspired with his girlfriend.

The detainee kissed the girlfriend during her visit at the Bureau of Immigration detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City and was sued for harassment.

"Their lawyers specialize in these cases and many of them will lose their licenses if they continue doing this. We will file cases even against the lawyers if they will insist on filing cases which are contrived," Remulla said.

Remulla said the scheme was disco...