4 days ago
3 Immigration officers probed over escape attempt of 4 overstaying Chinese
The Bureau of Immigration is investigating three of its officers for possibly colluding with four overstaying Chinese nationals who attempted to evade airport inspection and leave the Philippines.
'Any personnel found to have assisted in the circumvention of immigration procedures will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law,' Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said in a statement released Thursday.
According to the BI, officers of the Bureau's Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section intercepted four Chinese nationals as they tried to board separate flights to China and Vietnam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Monday.
The Chinese nationals were identified as Zhang Zhaoya, Wang Linmei, Qi Xiangyang, and Chen Wenda.
The bureau said Zhang has been overstaying in the country since July 2024 while Wang and Qi have been overstaying since September 2024.
Though Chen has a valid working visa, the BI said he did not have an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), which is a mandatory requirement for departing long-term residents.
'This interception reflects the Bureau's firm resolve to prevent foreign nationals who violate our immigration laws from escaping accountability,' Viado said.
'We are implementing redundancy checks, utilizing CCTV monitoring systems, and strengthening coordination among our units to prevent these attempts,' he added.
Meanwhile, the foreigners were turned over to the BI's legal division for inquest and fling of charges, according to the bureau. —Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News
