MANILA, Nov. 22 (PNA) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday clarified its procedures on blacklisting of foreign nationals who are out of the country.
According to Atty. Elaine Tan, BI spokesperson, the agency on March 29, 2001 issued Memorandum Order No. ADD-01-005, which identifies grounds which foreign nationals may be excluded or disallowed entry into the country.
Tan said that one of the grounds, anchored on the interest of public safety, was when a foreign national showed disrespect or made offensive utterances to symbols of Philippine authority.
She also said that a foreign national who was proven to possess grounds for exclusion was likewise included in the blacklist.
“We have close coordination with local law enforcement agencies and counterparts abroad to ensure that no undesirable foreign national enters, or remains in the country, as the case may be,” the BI official said in a statement.
Such agencies include the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), whose assessment are afforded more weight as they are considered to be in a better position to verify the information.
The rule is that a foreign national who is found to possess the grounds for undesirability while he is in the country is charged for deportation; if he is outside, the process is summary — he is immediately included in the blacklist.
“The rationale is that the subject is a threat to public safety and blacklisting minimizes that risk,” she added.
On the other hand, Tan said that a person who has been included in the blacklist may contest it by filing a request for lifting to the Commissioner of Immigration.
“If he submits sufficient proof to reverse the blacklist, it may be lifted accordingly,” she added.
Last June, several foreign journalists were included in the blacklist upon information relayed by the NICA relating to acts committed against President Benigno Aquino III during a summit in Bali, Indonesia.
“Following normal protocol, the indorsement by NICA resulted in issuance of a blacklist order against the identified foreign nationals,” Tan said. (PNA)