MANILA, Phlippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned its personnel on Monday that they could be held administratively liable for posting videos of themselves singing or dancing while wearing their uniform on the video-sharing app TikTok.
Immigration Port Operations chief Carlos Capulong said immigration agents would be charged with insubordination and misconduct for disregarding a memorandum that Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued to all bureau personnel, particularly those deployed in international ports.
Morente had earlier said that immigration employees who upload TikTok videos of themselves performing while on duty only “undermine the BI’s reputation and create a negative image for the agency’s personnel.”
Capulong said immigration personnel were prohibited from using mobile phones and other gadgets during their shift.
“As public servants, employees must proudly wear their uniform at all times, present a professional image to the public and observe proper decorum and good taste in all their actions while they are on duty,” Morente said.