All foreigners in the country must report to the Bureau of Immigration any of its personnel who might be engaged in illegal activities.
Immigration regional director Geronimo Rosas said that Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has called on aliens or foreigners not to hesitate to approach the bureau and report immigration men trying to extort or bribe them over immigration law violations.
There have been reports, mostly from Indians and Chinese, about immigration men running after them but asking for favors instead of encouraging them to comply with the laws to make their stay in the country legal.
Libanan, in a press statement, had said immigration personnel should have permission from the bureau first before conducting operations against the so-called illegal aliens.
It is illegal to investigate a foreigner suspected of violating Philippine immigration laws without a mission order duly signed by the regional director or the commanding officer of the unit, said Libanan.
He said that, “Foreigners who if approached, accosted, questioned and investigated by persons from BI should ask for a mission order.”
Illegally staying foreigners who yield to the immigration office will be given full assistance for their stay’s legalization and certain penalties may be waived, Libanan said.
A legally staying foreigner here in the Philippines carries an automated BI Card, which is renewable every year.
There are around 5,000 legally staying foreigners in Central Visayas. — Ferliza C. Contratista/RAE