Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Nonoy Libanan ordered on Friday the agency’s intelligence operatives to monitor and be on the lookout for foreigners joining mass actions in connection with Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Arroyo.

In a memorandum, Libanan instructed Atty. Faizal Hussin, BI intelligence chief, to investigate any foreign activist who may be spotted among the ranks of the protesters so that they could be subjected to deportation proceedings.

Hussin was also directed to “gather information for purposes of identification through photographs, passports, residence addresses, and immigration status” about foreign nationals taking part in mass actions.

Libanan reiterated his warning that foreigners should desist from taking part in such mass actions as it is tantamount to interfering in our country’s internal affairs.

He said foreigners joining a public demonstration can be held liable for violating immigration laws as the act violates the conditions of his stay in the country.

“We will also ban them from re-entering the Philippines by putting them in our blacklist of undesirable aliens,” the BI chief added.

He issued the order even as he instructed the bureau’s law enforcement division (LED) to investigate a group of nine Belgian activists who allegedly took part in a protest march in Bacoor, Cavite last Wednesday.

Libanan also instructed Wilfredo Poquez, LED acting chief, to coordinate with the Bacoor police in verifying the immigration status of the Belgians and in tracing their whereabouts so that necessary action could be taken against them.

A report obtained from the Bacoor police identified the Belgians as Johan Demettenaere, Mario Alessander Bauwens, Stefanie Devloo, Nicky Broeckhoven, Marlies Geldof, Jelle Eeckout, Oreet Vantieometi, Mattia de Pauw, and Chiara Donadoni, all of whom are said to be in their 20s.

Poquez said the LED is now investigating the status of the Belgians to determine if they should be subjected to deportation proceedings for immigration law violations.