BI records over 29 M int'l travelers in 2024

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Dec 31, 2024 03:25 PM 

Over 29 million international travellers were recorded by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in 2024.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI recorded a total of 14,540,533 arrivals -- 7,922,052 Filipinos and 6,618,481 foreigners.

There were 15,050,136 departures which included 8,348,283 Filipinos and 6,701,853 foreigners, Viado said. 

“These figures reflect a thriving travel industry and highlight the Philippines’ growing reputation as a global hub for tourism and business,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday, Dec. 31. 

“As we enter 2025, we will focus on modernization through advancements in technology and legal reforms to simplify immigration processes and improve overall efficiency,” he assured.

In 2024, Viado said the BI had also been vigilant against human trafficking which contributed in keeping the Philippines maintain its Tier 1 status in the 2024 United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report.

The BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) disclosed that in 2024 a total of 998 trafficking victims were referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) as well as 215 Filipinos referred to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for illegal recruitment. 

BI urges public to exercise 'extreme caution' in online travel arrangements

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Mar 17, 2024 05:25 PM

  

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The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has urged the public to exercise extreme caution in making online travel arrangements.

“By raising awareness and promoting vigilance among travelers, we can effectively counter cybercrime and ensure a safer online environment,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

Tansingco said prospective travellers should verify the legitimacy of websites and service providers before providing any personal or financial information. 

He urged the public to report suspicious websites and online activities to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

He reminded the public of  the existence of fake eTravel websites and other online scams.

He said that eTravel, which was launched earlier this year, “abolished the paper-based arrival and departure cards, as well as the quarantine form” and “serves as the single data collection platform for arriving and departing passengers” as well as “establishes an integrated border control, health surveillance, and economic data analysis.”

Last March 123, the CICC launched the "Online Bantay Lakbay” that was made in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Scam Watch Pilipinas. 

Tansingco said the “Online Bantay Lakbay” aims “to raise public awareness and combat travel scams, particularly those conducted online.”

“The Bureau of Immigration fully supports the 'Online Bantay Lakbay' initiative, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding the public against fraudulent travel schemes,” he also said.

German gov't donates equipment to NBI for use vs human traffickers

 

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Sep 26, 2023 09:01 AM

  

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) received a vehicle and various equipment from the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office  to help the Philippine government's fight against human trafficking.

NBI Director Medardo G. De Lemos and German Ambassador Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke on Monday, Sept. 25, signed the Deed of Donation for the turnover of the various equipment.

“Among the items donated by the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office include a Hyundai van, laptop computers, shirt vests, tactical lights, camera, camera lens, body cams, drone with remote control, electric scooters, binoculars, heavy-duty boltcutter, aluminum ladder, battering ram, mini GPS trackers, wireless wifi mini-cameras, wireless wifi mini camera bottle and wallet cameras,” the NBI said 

It said the German government has been “committed to improving police cooperation worldwide for several years now.”

“In pursuit of this objective, the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office provides assistance to police partners through projects related to Police Development Assistance, it said.

“To accomplish its goals, the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office facilitates Police Development Assistance thru equipment assistance that primarily includes training aids, such as command and operational, IT hardware and software infrastructure projects, among others,” it added.

During the turnover ceremony, De Lemos expressed his gratitude to the German government “for their generosity as he stressed that this will considerably help the operational capacity of our Agents and Investigators.” 

De Lemos also assured that “both the Federal Republic of Germany thru the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office and the German Embassy Manila and the NBI are dedicated to combatting and eradicating all forms of criminality including human trafficking and online sexual exploitation as well as promoting peace and order and efficient enforcement of laws.”

 

No more guidance, counseling program for Filipinos traveling abroad to see foreign partners -- BI

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Sep 3, 2023 09:09 AM

  

Filipinos who are going abroad to see their foreign partners are no longer required starting today, Sept. 3, to undergo the guidance and counseling program (GCP) of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

In a statement, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the scrapping of the GCP requirement was issued by the CFO, a member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), to lessen the requirements for departing Filipinos.

All immigration officers have been informed of the new CFO rule, Tansingco said.

“The inter-agency council is committed to continuously review departure requirements for departing Filipinos to adapt to current trends,” Tansingco said.

“The BI, as an implementing agency, is ready to implement changes in departure guidelines, as deemed fit by members of the inter-agency,” he added.

He said he received a letter last Aug. 31 from CFO Chairperson Romulo Arugay who informed the BI of the latest rule.

“The GCP was initially a requirement for Filipinos with foreign partners departing to meet or marry abroad,” he also said.

He pointed out that the new rule is part of the 2023 Revised Guidelines on Departure Formalities for Internationally-Bound Filipino Travelers.

Earlier, IACAT had announced the suspension of the implementation of the revised guidelines which were supposed to be implemented today, Sept. 3.

Several quarters have raised their objections to the revised guidelines claiming the new rules violate a person’s right to travel.

The Senate had requested IACAT to defer the implementation of the new guidelines.  Its request was granted.

BI warns OFWs vs ‘third country recruitment’

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Sep 3, 2023 09:49 AM

  

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) against accepting “third country recruitment” or the contract to work in another country other than the place where they were originally and legitimately hired.

With the practice of “third country recruitment,” the Philippine government would not have records of the OFWs being transported to a different country, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Tansingco said that OFWs, who usually accept “third country recruitment” after their visas expire, would be immediately transferred to the third country and would not get an opportunity to return to the Philippines.

“While ‘third party recruitment’ is beyond the scope of the BI, we deem it necessary to share to the public stories we encounter at the airport, as we are the first to hear about this back in the Philippines,” he said.

He stressed that “OFWs should protect themselves from exploitation by ensuring proper documentation when they work abroad.”

Tansingco issued the warning after five Filipinos arrived in the Philippines last Sept. 1 after their deportation from Moscow, Russia.

He said that four of the victims, all females with valid overseas employment certificates, shared the difficulties they encountered in Russia.

“Three of the female victims were OFWs in Hong Kong and were recruited to transfer to Russia upon expiry of their contracts,” he said.

“The other female victim worked as a nanny but remained in Russia despite the expiry of her contract,” he noted.

The male deportee, on the other hand, left the Philippines as a tourist to visit his OFW wife but overstayed due to Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

 

DOJ vows to deal with BI officers who abuse ’departure formalities’

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Mar 30, 2023 1:35 PM

  

The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured that immigration officers who abuse “departure formalities” that leads to passengers missing or re-booking their flights “will be appropriately and strictly dealt with.”

In a statement, the DOJ said “the implementation of departure formalities by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is pursuant to its legal mandate as an integral member of the IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking).”

“As such, their functions include administering and enforcing anti-trafficking, immigration, and related laws to better protect Filipinos from human trafficking and other dangers,” it said.

The DOJ issued the statement following the viral Tiktok video of Filipina Cham who ranted that on Dec. 22, 2022 she missed her flight to Israel due to the unnecessary questioning she underwent before an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The BI had issued an apology and had relieved the immigration officer involved.  But the bureau said it will not pay the woman for her re-booking.

“Rest assured, the abusive behavior which goes beyond the mandate of the officers will not be tolerated and will be appropriately and strictly dealt with,” the DOJ said.

It said that the BI “has taken the necessary steps to investigate any excessive or inappropriate behavior of some immigration officers in the course of implementing the departure formalities.”

It also said that “IACAT is in the process of revising the departure formalities to better reflect current trends and plug the gaps that arose along the way.”

The implementation of departure formalities is mandated by Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, and RA 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 as amended by RA 10022.

For tourist travelers, immigration officers require the presentation of passport, visa (when required), and roundtrip ticket.

Secondary inspection is required “when deemed necessary, for the purpose of protecting vulnerable victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment and other related offenses.”  A traveler will be asked his or her age, educational attainment, and financial capability to travel.

If not financially capable to travel, immigration officers will ask the authenticated affidavit of support which indicates the relationship within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity and the supporting documents.

IBP members set mandatory national convention in Davao City Feb. 16-18

by Jeffrey Damicog, MB

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) 

After four years, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is set to hold its first in-person mandatory national convention for lawyers starting Thursday, Feb. 16, in Davao City.

“More than 3,500 lawyers are expected to attend one of the biggest gatherings held by the IBP thus far,” the IBP said in a statement.

It said the event will be held at the SMX Convention Center until Feb. 18.

The IBP, the official national organization of lawyers founded in 1973, will also be celebrating its golden anniversary with the theme “IBP at 50: Looking Back, Moving Forward.”

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It said the Davao City event will provide “a forum for discussion on the IBP’s former leaders and the significant events and programs that have shaped the IBP, the legal profession, and the rule of law in our nation, as well as how all of these have affected the administration of justice.”

It also said the convention will “cover topics about the IBP’s activities, allowing a chance for the leadership to accept resolutions from the membership during the plenary session on proposals about the IBP, much like any event where the topic of justice is at the center of the debate.”

“Moreover, the 2023 National Convention of Lawyers will also be a chance for the attendees and participants to engage in meaningful discourse with the members of the Supreme Court and the judiciary, in eager anticipation of what the future holds for the IBP and the legal profession as a whole,” it added.

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.