BI starts deporting foreigners who worked for illegal POGOs on Oct. 19

by Jeffrey Damicog

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will start deporting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, foreigners who worked with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) whose licenses have been cancelled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Tuesday, Oct. 18, said during a press conference that BI Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco has informed him that “five or six of them will be deported,”

“There are 400 more in custody who are being scheduled. China is validating the identities of the persons to be deported if they are really their nationals,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is studying the recommendation made by the BI to implement an amnesty for illegal aliens in the country.

“This problem will have to be resolved for the country, hindi lang sa POGO (not only for POGO),” he explained.

“We have so many illegal aliens in this country who have to be recorded properly,” he pointed out.

Remulla lamented that illegal aliens in the country have become “milking cows of many people who should not be doing it.”

“So, these illegal aliens we have to deal with them. All of this mistreatment of foreigners in our country has to stop,” he stressed.

BI Reshuffles NAIA Personnel to Prevent Corruption

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Philippine Daily Inquirer

By: Julie M. Aurelio, 

An immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport processes a foreign national who has been barred from the Philippines for violating the conditions of his stay. (AFP file photo)

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration has revamped its immigration head supervisors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to put an end to familiarization and corruption in its frontline units.

Most immigration officers at the BI main office in Intramuros will be reassigned to the airports as a first step in the reshuffle of immigration personnel, according to the BI.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the reassignment would be in line with implementing President Duterte’s marching orders to eradicate familiarization in the agency’s operating units.

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“The revamp is aimed at preventing fraternization among employees, which was pinpointed as a major source of corruption in government agencies,” the immigration chief said on Friday.

The revamp will affect about two-thirds of immigration personnel stationed at the NAIA’s three terminals.

Morente stressed that the reorganization of immigration agents stationed at the airports would be the first in a series of personnel reassignments upon his assumption last July 1.

“In the next days, we will be issuing new orders reassigning to the airports the immigration officers currently stationed at the main office for faster and more efficient service,” he said.

Aside from designating new immigration head supervisors, the BI chief also reassigned immigration officers to head key units at the main office and subports.

BI spokesperson Tonette Mangrobang said the agency would beef up its campaign against illegal aliens as part of the President’s order to law enforcers to crack down on illegal drug syndicates usually run by foreign criminals.

“The restructuring and streamlining of the BI’s intelligence and enforcement units was prioritized to serve notice to illegal aliens and foreign criminals that their days are numbered,” she added.

Earlier, retired police general Charles Calima Jr. was designated to lead the BI intelligence division.  The fugitive search unit is now headed by Jose Carlitos Lucas.

Mangrobang said the FSU reverted to its former status as a unit under the intelligence division.  SFM

Advisory From the Bureau of Immigration

The ALIEN REGISTRATION DIVISION (ARD) reminds all registered aliens as follows:

1. Incomplete and/or improperty accomplished registrations forms shall be dismissed;
2. To register and secure the ACR I-Card only through authorized persons;
3. To report, in writing, changes in informations (e.g. civil status, citizenship, address and the like) IN ORDER TO AVOID SANCTIONS, INCLUDING IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS;
4. To pay the ANNUAL RREPORT FEE within the first 60 days of each year, unless exempted by law;
5. To renew ACR I-Cards at least three months in advance of pre-schedulded travels;
6. To check printed data on the ACR I-Card and promptly report errors and/or discrepancies;
7. To avoid false statements, misrepresentation and fraud in any immigration matter under pain of VISA CANCELLATION/FORFEITURE and/or deportation;
8. To secure REGULAR/PAPER-BASED EMIGRATION CLEARANCE CERTIFICATION (ECC) 72 hours before departure for the following:

a) Holders of Temporary Visitor's/Tourist (9a) Visa, who STAYED FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS;
b) Immigrants and Non-immigrants with DOWNGRADED OR EXPIRED VISAS except (a);
c) Immigrants and Non-immigrants with valid visas, who are leaving for a good except (a);
d) PHILIPPINE BORN temporary visitors, who are leaving FOR THE FIRST TIME;
e) FOREIGN NATIONALS with ORDER TO LEAVE; and
f) FOREIGN SEAFARERS, with BI-approved discharged, who stayed for more than 30 days.
9. All ACR I-Card holders, not included above, who are TEMPORARILY leaving the country may pay ECC RP/SRC fees at airports.

For queries, please contact (632) 465 2400 local 205 (ARD), email xinfo@immigration.gov.ph and binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph or visit the socal media accounts, officialbureauofimmigration on Facebook and @immigrationPH on Twitter.