BI chief admits abuse by personnel

The Bureau of Immigration on Sunday admitted that some of its personnel assigned to the country’s airports and seaports may have become arrogant and abusive in their zeal to prevent human trafficking victims, drug mules and undocumented overseas Filipino workers from leaving the country.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David said the intensified drive against human trafficking “should not be an excuse for overzealous immigration officers to be arrogant and abusive toward passengers.”

David said he would never condone such behavior and urged the public to file complaints with his office against abusive immigration officers.

The BI chief, however, said the tight screening of Filipinos departing for overseas was necessary, especially for tourists bound for countries known to be major OFW destinations.

David said that disguising their victims as tourists was the modus operandi of illegal recruiters.

“They (travelers) should understand that we are doing this to protect our poor countrymen from being victimized by criminal syndicates that take advantage of their poverty and their desire for greener pastures abroad,” he said.

For her part, BI spokesperson Maria Antonette Mangrobang justified the immigration officers’ acts of demanding to see documents such as income tax returns, bank accounts and employment certificates.

But she urged those with complaints to report their experiences through tel. 5273281 or 5273248, or via the BI’s website, www.immigration.gov.ph.