BI chief backs immigration law reform

MANILA, Philippines — Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Sunday backed a pending bill that would overhaul the 84-year-old Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 to address human trafficking, border security and immigration management, among others.

The measure has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is now under Senate deliberation.

Viado’s call for the law’s passage came after the inauguration of a new document forensics laboratory at Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

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The facility, opened on Nov. 27, is designed to strengthen the bureau’s ability to detect fraudulent documents.

The BI said the lab features advanced tools, including a video spectral comparator, the International Organization for Migration verifier and forensic document microscopes.

Viado traced the origins of the Bureau of Immigration’s Anti-Fraud Section (AFS) to a 2004 partnership with the Australian government aimed at combating illegal migration, human trafficking and terrorism.

He underscored the growth of the AFS from a single office to multiple facilities nationwide, including ports in Davao, Cebu and now Clark.

“This laboratory marks a milestone in our efforts to secure our borders,” Viado said. “We are ensuring that no fraudulent document goes undetected. Our expansion demonstrates the bureau’s commitment to protecting the integrity of our immigration processes.” —Jane Bautista