Bureau of Immigration on alert vs foreign terrorists

MANILA, Philippines — Not discounting the possibility that foreign terrorists might attempt to enter the country, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente yesterday placed personnel at international ports on heightened alert. 

In a statement, the BI commissioner also ordered the beefing up of security after the twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu last Sunday.

“I have instructed our port operations division to alert all its personnel and be on the lookout for suspected foreign terrorists who might attempt to enter the country,” Morente said. 

Morente added that foreigners who cannot satisfactorily explain their purpose in visiting the country would be returned to their port of origin.

BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said he has directed all immigration officers to be meticulous in performing their tasks.

“They were reminded to make sure that only aliens who are properly documented and are legitimate travelers with valid reasons in coming here are admitted,” Medina said.

Medina added that frontline personnel were also told to be careful in scrutinizing travel documents.

Aside from BI officers performing primary line duties, Medina said members of the travel control and enforcement unit and border control and intelligence unit have also been alerted.

“The intelligence community has been very helpful. This is a shared fight to protect our country,” Medina said. – With Rudy Santos