Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 24) — Travelers can complain to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) if they miss their flights due to lengthy inspections with immigration officers, an official said Thursday.
In a briefing, DOJ Undersecretary and IACAT head Nicholas Ty said there will be a 45-second time limit for the primary inspection and 15 minutes for the secondary inspection.
“Ideally, masundan ‘yung mga time limits na ‘yun [these time limits will be followed] and I think BI (Bureau of Immigration) is making a point to ensure that the traveler is able to have an opportunity to depart,” Ty explained.
“Pwede kayo mag-reklamo sa amin [You can complain to us],” he added.
The DOJ will commit to look into the case and investigate the immigration officer concerned, according to Ty.
Over the past months, there have been reports on social media of travelers who missed their flights due to lengthy questioning by immigration officers. Another traveler detailed online how she missed her flight after an officer asked for her yearbook.
READ: BI apologizes after traveler missed flight due to lengthy immigration interview
The IACAT recently issued revised guidelines for international-bound Filipinos, citing the need for stricter rules to combat human trafficking.
Complaints over the fresh set of guidelines have surfaced after their release, with a lawmaker saying the additional requirements are too burdensome.
READ: What you need to know about the new requirements for Filipinos traveling overseas
“A careful comparison of the revised departure formalities with the former rules reveals that we have not imposed any additional burden on outbound international travelers,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano also said in the briefing.
“Instead, what the revised departure formalities have achieved is a formalization and streamlining of the existing requirements that pertain to different categories of travelers,” Clavano added.
According to Clavano, “95%” of travelers would only be required to produce basic documentation such as a passport, boarding pass, confirmed return ticket, and a visa when necessary.
Ty, on the other hand, stated that passengers will only be asked to show proof of financial capacity if there are warning signs.
“If seasoned traveler ka na, at kita ng BI na madalas ka labas-pasok at umuuwi ka naman at hindi ka naghahanap ng trabaho, tingin ko safe na to say the basic documents are enough,” Ty said.
[Translation: If you are a seasoned traveler, and the BI sees that you often go out of the country but come back home, and you are not looking for a job abroad, I think it’s safe to say the basic documents are enough.]
