Student detained in Singapore airport

A STUDENT of the University of the Cordilleras has been held by Singapore airport officials during the weekend on suspicion he does not intend to return to the Philippines.

The student who arrived in Baguio Tuesday was detained at the airport for eight hours.

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Asked not to be identified yet pending his meeting with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Arnold (not his real name) said when he arrived in Singapore, airport officials brought him to a room and repeatedly asked him why he kept coming back to Singapore.

Arnold has been in Singapore thrice to visit his girlfriend and added that in all of his visits, he always came back before his visit visa expired.

Arnold said it was his first time to be questioned by airport officials. Despite assuring the airport officials that he has plans of returning because he is studying, they still detained him for eight hours and repeatedly asked him the same questions.

Arnold also recalled that airport officials got his girlfriend’s number reportedly to inform her he was held at the airport for questioning but no assistance came. He later learned airport officials did not make the call.

While detained, Arnold said he was also barred from calling anyone, including Philippine consulate officials or to use any electronic devise.

All his things, including jars of ube jam which he brought as present have all been inspected and opened, Arnold claimed. “My neatly folded garments have been brought out from my luggage.”

He surmised the scrutiny might be due to the recent Quirino hostage taking.

He was later released but Arnold said he is deeply humiliated because he was escorted by airport police all the way to the entrance of the airplane, which flew him back to the Philippines. (Rimaliza Opiña)