The Bureau of Immigration (BI) was placed on heightened alert to prevent undesirable aliens and human trafficking victims from taking advantage of the long Holy Week break to slip in or out of the country.
Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. directed immigration officers and immigration intelligence agents stationed in the ports to be extra vigilant and closely monitor all arriving and departing international travelers.
David warned that the long holiday might be exploited by foreign terrorists, drug mules and other undesirable aliens to sneak into the country.
He said human trafficking and illegal recruitment syndicates might also seize the opportunity to spirit their victims out of the airports and seaports.
David further ordered that unless for meritorious reasons, BI personnel are prohibited from going on leave during the Holy Week.
The BI chief instructed the immigration personnel to closely monitor and tightly screen all arriving foreigners and turn back those whose purpose in visiting the country is doubtful.
He said “those who are profiled as likely to become public charges shall be subjected to secondary inspection and, if warranted, excluded and booked on the first available flight to their port of origin.”
Aliens whose names are on the Immigration blacklist shall likewise be turned back, David added.
The BI personnel were also ordered to be extra vigilant in screening departing Filipino tourists, especially those bound for countries where there are many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Undocumented OFWs or those suspected tourist workers shall not be allowed to leave until they have obtained the necessary exit permits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Atty. Maria Antonette Mangrobang, BI spokesman and acting intelligence chief, said the alert order aims to serve notice to illegal aliens and human traffickers that the country’s ports are tightly guarded at all times.
Mangrobang stressed that the BI cannot relax its vigilance even when the country’s attention is focused on the observance of a very solemn religious occasion.
