THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday it has shuffled nearly a hundred of its intelligence officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) as part of measures to prevent corruption at the airports.
BI Port Operations Division (POD) Chief Grifton Medina said the reshuffle covers a total of 96 immigration intelligence officers, agents and job order employees assigned to the bureau’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) at the Naia.
The revamp took place two weeks ago upon the issuance of a directive from BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.
Morente directed the POD to rotate the terminal assignments of BCIU personnel whose primary tasks are to monitor and profile alien passengers and assist immigration officers in detecting suspected human-trafficking victims.
“We are continuously reshuffling and rotating the assignments of our airport personnel to reenergize our work force, eliminate boredom, and enable our employees to take on new tasks and responsibilities that will enable them to gain added experience and skills,” Medina said.
Medina said the continuous reshuffle of BI personnel at the country’s airports are also intended to improve their services.
The official noted BCIU personnel at the Naia have not been shuffled for nearly three years, during which time each of them reported to only one of the three Naia terminals.
“Henceforth, the BI will rotate the terminal assignments of its BCIU personnel quarterly, similar to the rotation scheme being implemented for BI officers manning immigration booths at the Naia,” he said.
Medina said the rotation of the BI officers was overdue, but the agency had to wait for the lifting of the ban on transfer of government employees during the recent election period.
Joel R. San Juan, Recto L. Mercene