At the same time, Bureau of Immigration intelligence chief Maria Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang appealed for help from recruitment agencies, even as she said the bureau is exerting all efforts to identify its erring personnel amid mounting complaints of rampant unjustified off-loading of overseas workers.
“We are trying our best to determine who these unscrupulous individuals are, we also need the support of the public specifically the agencies since this is their business,” she said yesterday.
The many complaints, which caught the attention of Binay and Partido ng Masang Palipino Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, led to calls for an inquiry.
The complaints said the off-loading even of those with valid documents seemed designed to “extort money” from the departing Filipino workers.
A total of 17 Filipinos were off-loaded in October, with 13 classified as “tourist workers,” and one found with alleged irregularities in his travel and working papers.
“In the past, we have always asked assistance from recruitment agencies that have reported such unsavory activities. If they could name or provide the identities of those who have asked for whatever consideration in exchange for allowing people to travel, please help us,” said Mangrobang.
A Department of Justice technical working group will study the policies and procedures in implementing the anti-human trafficking campaign that was being made the excuse for the off-loading by unscrupulous immigration men.
“Vice President Binay, who is chairman emeritus of the Interagency Committee Against Trafficking [Iacat], has already directed the creation of a technical working group to review the policies and the procedures,” Mangrobang said.
The TWG will also investigate immigration agents suspected of extorting money from Filipino workers going out of the country.
Binay said while the campaign has contributed to a decline in the incidents of human trafficking and illegal recruitment, “it has become controversial because of the complaints of abuse of discretion and corruption.”
Binay said among the planned measures include the installation of closed-circuit television cameras to monitor all immigration counters at the airports, inclusion of personnel from agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in the interviews of departing passengers, and providing guide questions for Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel.
“I believe there is a need for BI to have proper guidelines in the off-loading of passengers. The basis for preventing a Filipino from leaving the country should be clearly spelled out to minimize the exercise of discretion on the part of immigration personnel,” said Binay.
He, likewise, urged the BI to expedite hearings of corruption complaints filed against 18 immigration personnel who reportedly demanded money from departing passengers in exchange for clearance to leave the country.
“I am confident that the BI will fast- track the hearings on these complaints to emphasize to our kababayan that corruption will never be tolerated under the Aquino administration,” he said.
Binay also urged migrant Filipino workers and other passengers who have been victimized by unscrupulous BI personnel to file complaints.
“I appeal to our kababayan to also do their share by coming out and filing cases against these employees so they can be held accountable. As your Vice President, I assure you that these complaints will be acted upon,” he said.
(Butch Fernandez with Sara Fabunan)
