By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said it is now investigating personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for supposedly posting videos of themselves dancing or singing while on duty and in uniform on video-sharing app Tiktok.
“I was instructed by Commissioner (Jaime) Morente to hold these errant employees liable by forwarding their cases to our board of discipline for investigation and filing of the appropriate administrative cases,” BI port operations chief Carlos Capulong said in a statement.
Capulong, meanwhile, issued a memorandum on the matter where he warned that those who will defy the measure will face administrative cases for insubordination and misconduct.
He also reminded employees to strictly observe the ban on the use of cellular phones and other electronic gadgets while on duty.
Capulong said the Tiktok videos of BI employees in uniform could not have been taken if they are not on duty at the time, thus it is obvious that they had their mobile phones and gadgets with them.
In December last year, Morente banned BI employees in uniform from posting on Tiktok, saying the act tarnishes the bureau’s reputation as an institution.
”Our policy on the wearing of the BI uniform is clear. As public servants, employees must proudly wear their uniform at all times, present a professional image to the public and observe proper decorum and good taste in all their actions while they are on duty,” Morente said in a memorandum.
He added that the Tiktok videos undermine the BI’s reputation and create a negative image for the agency’s personnel, especially its front-line immigration officers. (PNA) – bny
