BUREAU of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco clarified the agency’s role in processing chartered flights.

In a statement, Tansingco said that the office had received reports via media entities that an unauthorized private jet was able to depart the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 last February 13, at around 10 p.m.

Said report claims that the special flight carried “more passengers” than the number declared in the flight manifest.

Chartered flights fall under the category of special flights, wherein passengers are not processed in the immigration area but are instead inspected near the aircraft.

He said that they had conducted an initial verification of the said incident with the BI NAIA Terminal 1 management.

“According to the initial report, there were ten individuals on board the said aircraft. Seven passengers and three crew were listed in the manifest,” said Tansingco.

“All underwent derogatory checks and were compliant to immigration formalities,” he added.

He added that an immigration officer was likewise assigned to attend to and process the passengers in the said aircraft.

An “emergency meeting” was called by the Office of Transportation Security, and immigration representatives explained the role of the BI in processing departing individuals.

The BI is only one of the numerous agencies that inspect departing and arriving special flights.

Permits on security, health, duties, and others are handled by other government agencies.

“The entrance of other individuals in the airport premises does not fall under the jurisdiction of the BI,” said Tansingco.

“Our officers only process passengers, following the official General Declaration,” he added.

Immigration officers are only given ramp access during “special flights” together with the Quarantine and Customs officers.

They are also assigned at random except during Presidential flights.

During the said meeting, it was proposed that a one-stop-shop processing center be created to harmonize border clearance procedures.

The BI said they highly support the proposal and are “one with local law enforcement agencies in the fight against human trafficking. The agency appreciates any information that would lead to interceptions of attempted trafficking.” BY JUN I. LEGASPI & HECTOR LAWAS