Manila, July 15 -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday reported that mining executive Joseph Sy is expected to be returned to its detention facility within the week after his attending physicians declared him medically fit for discharge from hospital confinement.

In a statement, Commissioner Joel Viado said Sy's hospital confinement for a month was authorized solely on humanitarian and medical grounds while he was receiving treatment under government custody.

"Mr. Sy's temporary hospital confinement was approved because of medical necessity. With his attending physicians having certified that he is already fit for discharge, the medical basis for his continued hospital confinement no longer exists," he added.

Sy, 60, has been ...