Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has urged the 30 new immigration and intelligence officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to become the country’s “show windows” and impress upon to the foreigners the good qualities and traits of the Filipino people. “Be a good model for Filipinos,’’ Devanadera said.

In her address to the IOs during their graduation last Thursday, Devanadera said the responsibility of immigration officers has progressed from merely guarding the ports of entry against undesirable aliens to becoming the country’s ambassadors to foreign travelers.

Devanadera told the IOs that they should always be conscious of their jobs and give a positive impression to foreigners by displaying the good qualities and traits of Filipinos.

"Dapat laging nasa consciousness nila na nandun sila sa mga puwesto nila para maipakita yung mukha ng bansa – so they're the frontliners and they should be conscious all the way that they should be friendly but at the same time firm," she said.

She cited the reforms at the bureau which she said have set new standards of performance for the rest of the DoJ.

"The Bureau of Immigration has set a new standard of performance for the DoJ family. It is the trailblazer of reforms in the work of the DoJ," she said in her speech for the graduation rites.

Devanadera added that during the recent working visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the United States, Mrs. Arroyo proudly told US President Barack Obama that the BI was an active participant in the worldwide drive against human trafficking.

“In fact, the BI under the leadership of Libanan, have frustrated the moves of human trafficking syndicates to used the Philippines as transit point in an attempt to smuggle foreigners to US and European countries,” Devanadera stressed.

The DoJ chief attended the graduation of the 30 new immigration officers who just finished their training at the BI's training academy in Clark Field, Pampanga.

They will be deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) tomorrow.

BI Commissioner Nonoy Libanan, for his part, asked the new immigration officers to be "courteous and pleasant" to arriving foreigners. But Libanan also ordered them to be alert and vigilant at the same time, especially against undesirable foreigners who are engaged in transnational crimes like human trafficking, drug trafficking and terrorism.

“Be alert. Be vigilant. That is your mandate as gatekeepers of our country,” Libanan said.

The extensive training that would help immigration officers fulfill their new roles as the country's representatives before foreign visitors is part of Libanan's reforms at the bureau which focus on attracting more foreign investors and tourists to the Philippines while guarding against foreign fugitives, transnational criminals and terrorists.