Malaysia-bound Pinoys file complaint vs immigration officer

Four Malaysia-bound Filipinos filed an administrative case against an immigration officer for disallowing them to board their plane at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. In a four-page complaint, the four Filipinos cited the immigration officer, a certain Malinao, for her alleged discourteous conduct toward the four travelers who showed pertinent travel documents. The four Filipinos were supposed to leave for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on January 27 aboard Asian Air flight AK 6265 but Malinao barred them from boarding their plane for an unknown reason. The complainants said they have gone abroad several times as proven by the immigration exit stamps and visas on their passports. “We presented legitimate travel documents and invitation from our sponsors but still, the immigration officer did not allow us to board the plane. They could not give logical explanation on what grounds why we were off-loaded," the complainants said. Officers' prerogative Meanwhile, airport officers said “it is the prerogative of the immigration officer to disallow passengers to board the plane." Immigration officers have been disallowing or "off-loading" some Filipino passengers from leaving the country as part of the Philippine government's intensified drive against human trafficking. “Many of them did not have the required clearances and employment permits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) although it was obvious that they are not legitimate," immigration officer Arvin Santos said. - VVP, GMA News