By Jun Ramirez
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has placed on heightened alert its personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other ports nationwide amid the ongoing influx and exodus of a large number of international passengers who will be going on vacation during the “Undas” break.
Bureau of Immigration (MANILA BULLETIN)
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said he issued the alert directive to prevent human trafficking syndicates from taking advantage of the holiday break to spirit their victims out of the country.
Morente also cited intelligence reports that international human smuggling syndicates might use the occasion to again use Manila as a transit point for illegal aliens who want to enter countries where they want to settle and work illicitly.
“Be sure that our immigration officers are always vigilant and on the lookout for these travelers who are victims of these fraud syndicates,” Morente said in his directive to BI port operations chief Grifton Medina.
Medina, for his part, assured that BI officers manning immigration counters have been told to be extra careful and meticulous in screening arriving and departing passengers and not to be distracted by the big volume of travelers who always swarm the airports during holidays.
“They were instructed to always practice what they have been trained to do and that is to implement to the letter our rules and regulations on the conduct of immigration formalities for travelers who enter and exit our ports,” Medina said.
He said strict departure formalities will be conducted to prevent Filipinos victimized by traffickers from leaving while arriving foreigners will be thoroughly screened to make sure their visas and travel documents are valid and genuine.
Medina explained that detecting human trafficking victims and illegal aliens is also the responsibility of members of BI’s travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) whose members are stationed at the NAIA and other ports.
Also assisting them are members of the border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) who perform intelligence and counter-intelligence duties, including intercepting and apprehending fugitives, international criminals, and other persons with a derogatory record who might try to enter or flee the country.
Medina said that they were expecting an increase of arrivals and departures before All Saints’ Day on November 1.
Bureau of Immigration (MANILA BULLETIN)
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said he issued the alert directive to prevent human trafficking syndicates from taking advantage of the holiday break to spirit their victims out of the country.
Morente also cited intelligence reports that international human smuggling syndicates might use the occasion to again use Manila as a transit point for illegal aliens who want to enter countries where they want to settle and work illicitly.
“Be sure that our immigration officers are always vigilant and on the lookout for these travelers who are victims of these fraud syndicates,” Morente said in his directive to BI port operations chief Grifton Medina.
Medina, for his part, assured that BI officers manning immigration counters have been told to be extra careful and meticulous in screening arriving and departing passengers and not to be distracted by the big volume of travelers who always swarm the airports during holidays.
“They were instructed to always practice what they have been trained to do and that is to implement to the letter our rules and regulations on the conduct of immigration formalities for travelers who enter and exit our ports,” Medina said.
He said strict departure formalities will be conducted to prevent Filipinos victimized by traffickers from leaving while arriving foreigners will be thoroughly screened to make sure their visas and travel documents are valid and genuine.
Medina explained that detecting human trafficking victims and illegal aliens is also the responsibility of members of BI’s travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) whose members are stationed at the NAIA and other ports.
Also assisting them are members of the border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) who perform intelligence and counter-intelligence duties, including intercepting and apprehending fugitives, international criminals, and other persons with a derogatory record who might try to enter or flee the country.
Medina said that they were expecting an increase of arrivals and departures before All Saints’ Day on November 1.