NAIA immigration officers rotated

The Bureau of Immigration office at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) began yesterday the rotation of its immigration officers at the departure and arrival counters to prevent corrupt practices.

In an interview at the NAIA, NAIA-Immigration head supervisor Ferdie Sampol said that Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo had given the order to stop "familiarization" between officers and passengers that could bring about corruption.

In this way, no immigration officer will be able to know where he will be assigned the next day.

Sampol said that NAIA-Immigration has also issued identification cards to all their immigration personnel at NAIA Terminals 1 and 2.

The Immigration head supervisor said that this would differentiate them with the othe airport personnel.

Immigration personnel at the NAIA are now required to wear his or her BI identification card together with the official identification card issued by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to all airport personnel.

Sampol said he has also instructed all immigration personnel, while working at the immigration counters at the departure and arrival areas, to avoid using or even turning on their cellular phones while working at the counters.

He also urged all passengers to turn off their cellular phones while being interviewed at the counters.

Sampol said that the use of cellular phones at the counters would affect the computers. – Sandy Araneta