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Monday, September 20, 2004
Cellphone use banned among immigration employees
By Raquel C. Bagnol
EMPLOYEES of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are prohibited from using their mobile phones when they are on duty as a preventive measure against "under the table" transactions concerning the illegal entry of foreigners in the country.
"This is one method of reviving the image of the BI, which has been tainted with the involvement of three officials in a human trafficking scam," BI commissioner Alipio Fernandez said.
He said the bureau is at the frontline in tourist arrivals and the prohibition of cellphone use could help employees stay out of "underground deals."
Fernandez said the BI is also conducting seminars for its employees, particularly those who work in documentation, to be able to follow proper policies and procedures in serving clients.
The BI reported 52 incidents of human trafficking last year, and this includes three BI officials.
He also said the immigration officials at the various airports in the country are implementing strict security measures and tight passenger assessments to screen incoming tourists and visitors to the country.
In a recent interview with Sun.Star, Fernandez said that the BI is also working for the legalization of the foreigners who enter the country through the "backdoor."
"Under the project of the Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Saranggani Cooperation Triangle, we are working for the legalization of foreigners who enter the country through these three borderline towns," Fernandez said.
He said the Philippines has a vast backdoor shoreline, prompting the BI to work closely with the European Union and the Australian Union to monitor the borders.
He said that marines who are trained to handle immigration procedures are also deployed at the international seaport in Zamboanga City to monitor illegal aliens.
(September 20, 2004 issue)
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