Gordon: BI must ensure foreigners in PH not into drugs

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration must ensure that foreigners entering the Philippines are not involved in the illegal drug trade, Sen. Richard Gordon said on Wednesday.

In a speech before the plenary, Gordon said the bureau should make sure that the intentions of those entering the country were “not criminal or degenerate.”

“For example, the Bureau should look into why there are always Chinese nationals involved in the drug trade,” he said.

Noting that China has been very strict with Filipinos, particularly seamen in disputed areas of the South China Sea, Gordon said in Filipino: “We should be strict with those entering the Philippines, especially if they are involved in drugs. We should show them no mercy.”

He added that those in illegal drug trading had a new modus operandi, which entailed the use of magnetic lifters to smuggle crystal meth, locally known as shabu.

Gordon added: “Chinese drug lords hold court in [New] Bilibid [Prison], so to speak, using the prison as a virtual stock exchange of shabu — utilizing Filipinos as mere employees and enablers.”

According to the senator, almost 90 percent of smuggled shabu in the country are from China.

“We cannot sit idly by and allow this to happen,” he said. “This problem is so serious that this needs more intensive investigation.”

Gordon presented before the plenary the recommendations of the Senate blue ribbon and justice committees after their probe on the issue of rogue cops.

Among the recommendations of the committees include the strengthening of the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which entails making it a “truly independent institution, not within the PNP)” as well as amending the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

/atm