Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) vowed that the government will investigate any possible “inappropriate behavior” of Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers carrying out departure formalities, and warned that those abusing such protocols will be held accountable.
The DOJ issued the statement on Thursday as it noted the plight of Filipino travelers who were affected by the strict implementation of immigration rules.The BI has taken the necessary steps to investigate any excessive or inappropriate behavior of some immigration officers,” the department said.Rest assured, the abusive behavior which goes beyond the mandate of the officers will not be tolerated and will be appropriately and strictly dealt with,” it added.The BI hogged the spotlight in the past few weeks after a passenger claimed she missed her flight due to a lengthy immigration interview. In a viral TikTok, the traveler said she was asked irrelevant questions by an officer, including if she brought her yearbook for her trip.
The bureau has since apologized for the incident.
Meanwhile, the DOJ said authorities are in the process of revising the departure formalities to better address current trends and gaps in procedures.It added that talks with stakeholders are underway to “minimize the inconvenience” experienced by travelers.The agency likewise appealed for the public’s patience amid the government’s fight against human trafficking and new related schemes popping up.
