MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives confiscated “dangerous weapons” and gadgets during a recent raid on its detention facility for undesirable foreigners in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Tuesday morning’s operation of BI’s Intelligence Division and the Regional Special Operation Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office (RSOU-NCRPO) stemmed from reports received by the bureau about the proliferation of prohibited items inside the BI Warden Facility (BIWF).
BI said BIWF, which serves as a detention center for foreign nationals who are undergoing deportation proceedings, currently houses 236 aliens that are up for deportation.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement that among the items that were seized included mobile phones and accessories, portable air condition units, portable Wi-fi, sharp and pointed tools, knives, steel tubes, scissors, laptops, DVD players, decks of cards, and lighters.
“Past administrations used to be lenient in allowing the detainees to use gadgets because the BIWF is a detention facility for those to be deported and not a jail,” Morente said.
“But seeing dangerous weapons confiscated here prompts us to add stricter security measures,” he added.
Morente then warned BIWF detainees that the bureau would carry out continued “shakedowns” as it investigates how prohibited items were slipped inside the facility. /kga