The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has tightened its screening check on foreign nationals arriving in the country from Cambodia and Vietnam.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Sept. 21, BI said the move was made following reports of local law enforcement agencies that prevailing kidnapping cases and syndicates' extortion activities come from the mentioned two Southeast Asian countries.
It was Commissioner Norman Tansingco who ordered the frontline personnel of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to tighten the screening of foreigners during his ocular inspections.
Immigration officers are instructed to conduct a secondary inspection if there are foreign nationals who have doubtful purposes of travel to the Philippines.
“This is how immigration works. We look at arrival trends and look for patterns. Our partnership with other law enforcement agencies allows us to see whether there is a need to tighten measures on certain types of travelers,” Tansingco said.
The BI chief added that the agency endeavors to implement an advanced passenger information system that would allow them to better look at the trends and implement measures for border security.
Last week, the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs launched its probe into the increasing abduction cases involving foreign workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The latest data from Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) shows that there are 27 kidnapping cases from January to September. Out of which, 15 cases are POGO-related.
