BI implements stricter screening for Bahrain-bound Pinoys

A more stringent screening of departing Filipinos to Bahrain has been implemented by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), following reports that many of them end up as undocumented contract workers in the Middle East. Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the bureau has become “more vigilant" in screening Filipinos who are going to Bahrain. Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin, for her part, commended the BI under David’s watch for its intensified drive against illegal recruitment and human trafficking. “I wish to commend the bureau under your watch for helping the embassy and other concerned foreign service posts in the fight against illegal recruitment and human trafficking," Bahjin said in her letter to David. Immigration records showed that since August last year, the bureau offloaded more than 54,000 departing Filipinos suspected of being “tourist workers" or “OFWs disguised as tourists." Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials have complained over problems they encounter when dealing with undocumented OFWs. They said the OFWs cannot be given protection or assistance by Philippine embassies abroad whenever they ran into trouble. — JE, GMA News