BI warns vs ‘fake’ immigration operations
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned foreign nationals about a “fake” operations order circulating in chat groups on the Internet.
In an advisory, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco stated that the “operations order” – titled “checking overstaying and illegal employment in various entertainment places” was not issued by the BI.
The fake order claimed that immigration personnel was directed to inspect entertainment places in Manila, including bars, KTVs, music houses, golf clubs, bowling alleys, Internet cafes, amusement parks, casinos, hotels, guest houses, and restaurants, to search for illegal aliens.
“No such order has been issued by the BI,” said Tansingco.
“Our operatives are not authorized to randomly inspect establishments, but instead are required to secure a mission order to conduct an arrest. A mission order is only issued upon thorough investigation and confirmation that the subject foreign national has indeed violated immigration laws,” he added.
Tansingco believes that the fake order is being used by syndicates that scare foreign nationals in the country to scam them.
He said that any such instance should be reported immediately to local law enforcement agencies. By Jun I. Legaspi and Hector Lawas
