VP Binay to OFWs: Report shady Immigration personnel

Vice President Jejomar Binay urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to report Philippine Immigration officials allegedly abusing the government's policy of "offloading" or barring passengers from flying to certain countries on suspicion that they could be victims of human trafficking. Binay, presidential adviser for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), said on Wednesday, “I appeal to our kababayans to also do their share by coming out and filing cases against these employees so they can be held accountable. As your Vice President, I assure you that these complaints will be acted upon." Under the Immigration Act, an immigration officer may offload or prevent a passenger from boarding the plane if suspected of using spurious travel documents, or carrying a tourist visa but intends to work abroad. Binay said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) needs proper guidelines on the offloading passengers. “The basis for preventing a Filipino from leaving the country should be clearly spelled out to minimize the exercise of discretion on the part of immigration personnel," he said. Binay, chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (IACAT), said the government will soon implement strict measures, such as the installation of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in immigration to curb alleged abuse of the offloading policy at the country’s international airports. Binay made this recommendation due to mounting complaints of abuse of discretion and corruption from legitimate overseas Filipino workers and tourists, who were barred from going to their destinations. The other proposed measures to stop alleged abuses and corruption in airports are: