Sunday 3rd July, 2011
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) is implementing tight screening of Filipinos departing for abroad, particularly on those going to usual jump-off points of undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the move is being conducted to prevent the exodus of victims of human trafficking, illegal recruitment and even drug mules."They should understand that we are doing this to protect our poor countrymen from being victimized by criminal syndicates who take advantage of their poverty and their desire for greener pastures abroad," he said in a statement.
He added it is the job of immigration officers to assess Filipino travelers to determine if the passenger is indeed a legitimate tourist traveling for pleasure abroad.
The immigration chief noted that illegal recruiters usually told their human trafficking victims to guise as tourists to pass the screening process.
The intensified drive against trafficking, however, should not be an excuse for immigration officers to be arrogant and abusive toward passengers, said David.
He urged the public to file complaints against immigration officers who exhibit such bad behaviors.
On the other hand, BI spokesperson Maria Antonette Mangrobang said the documents the immigration officers are demanding from the passengers are income tax returns, bank accounts and employment certificates.
She appealed to those who have complaints against abusive immigration officers to report their experiences through telephone numbers 527-3281 or 5273248, or via the BI's website at www.immigration.gov.ph.