By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday placed its personnel in international airports and seaports nationwide on heightened alert to prevent the entry of foreign terrorists into the country.
The move comes in the wake of the twin bombings that killed at least 20 people and injured 112 others in Jolo, Sulu over the weekend.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente has instructed immigration officers assigned at the ports to be doubly vigilant in screening arriving foreigners and to ensure that they have legitimate purposes in entering the country.
“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 in a statement.
“Those who cannot satisfactorily explain their purpose in coming here are to be turned back and booked on the first available flight to their port of origin,” the BI chief added.
On the other hand, BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina has directed all immigration officers to be extra meticulous in conducting primary inspection of passengers in the country’s entry points.
“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,” he said.
“They were told to be careful in scrutinizing travel documents that are presented to them during primary inspection as it is highly probable that foreign terrorists might attempt to use fake passports and visas to slip into the country,” the BI official added.
At the same time, Medina has alerted members of the travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) and border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) to be extra vigilant in screening travelers from other countries.
TCEU personnel are responsible for conducting secondary inspection of passengers with doubtful documents and travel purpose while the BCIU is manned by intelligence personnel tasked to monitor and spot for passengers acting suspiciously or exhibiting unusual behaviors.
At the same time, he acknowledged the sharing of database with local and international intelligence agencies in helping detect suspected terrorists.
“The intelligence community has been very helpful. This is a shared fight to protect our country, and we’re doing our best to prevent the attempt of foreign terrorists to enter the Philippines,” Medina added.
Reports said the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the twin explosions that rocked the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral on Sunday.
