The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has denied the entry of some 242 illegal foreign workers, amid an ongoing revamp within the bureau involving 800 employees linked to the pastillas scheme.
Immigration chief Jaime Morente said that 79 foreigners tried to illegally enter the country through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1, while 33 were denied entry at Terminal 2, and 130 at Terminal 3.
“Some were Cambodians, Vietnamese, Indonesians, [from] Myanmar, Malaysians and Chinese,” Morente said adding the foreign nationals were intercepted from February 21 to 28, 2020.
Immigration Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., said they were notified by their counterpart intelligence agents from abroad “of the attempt of suspected illegal workers to use other ports of entry to come to the Philippines.”
“We see this as a cause for concern,” he said. “Our front liners will heighten our efforts in screening these aliens. We are in close coordination with our foreign counterparts in ensuring that no aliens with bad records enter the country,” the immigration chief said. He added: “But if they are already in the country before we receive information about their crimes, we will immediately [seek and] send them out,” he added.
Meanwhile, Morente vowed to expand the probe on the alleged pastillas scheme, named after a local sweet wrapped in thin paper, following statements from whistleblower Allison Chiong that the modus reportedly continued to operate “until recently.”
“I have ordered all Naia heads replaced, and reshuffled all frontline personnel to break any possible collusion among them. This revamp affected around 800 officers,” Morente said.
“We have, likewise, placed the Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, and the Border Control and Investigation Unit under the control, and supervision of the Intelligence Division to serve as an external check and balance to monitor airport operations,” he added.
Morente warned that those who will be proven to be part of the alleged scheme will face both administrative and criminal charges.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Morente still enjoys President Duterte’s trust and confidence.
“Well, apparently, he [President Duterte] is giving Commissioner Morente a chance to do some innovations in the immigration [bureau],” he said.
Panelo made the remarks nearly a week after Duterte said Morente’s fate lies on the results of the pending investigations into the supposed irregularities committed by some BI personnel.
He said Morente even joined the 47th Cabinet meeting held at Malacañang on Monday amid controversies plaguing BI. With PNA
Image credits: Namhwi Kim | Dreamstime.com