The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred from entering the country more than 300 improperly documented foreigners who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Aiport (NAIA)Terminal 1, it was learned Wednesday.

BI- Airport Operations Division (AOD) Chief, Ferdinand Sampol said that at a total of 334 foreigners were refused entry at the premiere port from January to December last year for having incomplete or spurious travel documents.

Sampol, however, said the 334 passengers refer only to improperly documented aliens and do not include those who were turned back for other reasons such as being deemed a public charge or being included in the BI blacklist or watchlist.

“Foreign passengers may be considered improperly documented for various reasons, especially not having the required entry visa and failure to procure return tickets,” Sampol said.

He said a report on the total number of aliens barred from entering the country last year will be submitted to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan as soon as figures from the other airports and subports are received and collated.

Sampol also reported that for bringing in the 334 improperly documented aliens into the country, 22 airline companies were fined P50,000 for each excluded passenger or a combined total of P17.2 million.

He added that the tight screening of arriving foreigners at the NAIA is in compliance with the instructions of Libanan for immigration officers at ports of entry to always be on the highest state of alert.

Libanan commended the BI airport personnel for a job well done as he reminded them of the continuing threat posed by international terrorists to the country’s peace and security.

He said foreign terrorists will always attempt to sneak into the country; thus, it is imperative for immigration officers to be always vigilant in their job as gatekeepers of the country.

he names of excluded aliens were all placed in the immigration blacklist to prevent them from re-entering the Philippines.

Statistics showed that of the 334 excluded aliens, 27 were passengers of Cathay Pacific Airways; 22, Emirates Airlines; 21, Royal Dutch Airlines; and 20, Singapore Airlines. The China Airlines, Malaysian Airways and Qatar Airways each had 10 passengers excluded; Northwest Airlines and Aseana Airlines had 11 excluded passengers each; and Japan Airlines and China Southern, nine each. The JetStar Airways had 14 passengers who were refused entry; Ethad Airways, 13; Thai Airways, 12; Korean Air, 8; Saudi Arabian Airlines, 6; Qantas Airways, 3; and Dragon Air, 2.

Based on previous records, Cathay Pacific has the most number of improperly documented passengers.