BI restricts immigration area

July 26, 2019

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has banned its personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from “loafing, facilitating and escorting” any arriving and departing passenger.

In a recently issued memorandum, BI’s port operations division (POD) chief Grifton Medina reiterated an existing office regulation issued eight years ago, and warned employees who defy the directive will be meted stiff disciplinary sanctions and slapped with administrative cases.

Immigration men were restricted from entering NAIA’s immigration areas outside their tour of duty or terminal assignment.

In a statement, Medina explained that the directive is just one of several preventive measures being implemented in the BI under Morente’s watch.

In the same memorandum, Medina also disclosed that upon Morente’s instructions NAIA’s immigration areas have been 'sanitized' by making them off-limits to non-BI personnel. 

It can be recalled that in 2014, an Indian national was intercepted by BI for trying to illegally enter the country by posing as an airline employee.

He was caught attempting to slip through the immigration area by wearing an airport ID and a reflectorized vest.

"There have been documented instances in the past wherein airport and airline personnel would facilitate the travel of illegal workers or illegal aliens. We're taking steps to ensure that this will not happen again," Medina added. DMS