BI to go tougher on aliens with fake visas

Starting this month, the Bureau of Immigration will go more aggressively against aliens using fake travel documents such as immigration stamps and fake reentry and exit permits.

 

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. ordered not only the arrest of foreigners with fake visas or visa extension stamps, but also the imposition of penalties on BI personnel providing such documents.

 

David said administrative sanctions and possible criminal charges await BI employees providing fake immigration stamps and travel documents.

 

Such spurious immigration documents include the ACR I-Card, emigration clearance certificate (ECC) and re-entry permits.

 

On the other hand, BI spokesperson and acting intelligence chief Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said aliens caught with these fake documents face not just deportation but also blacklisting and a ban from re-entering the Philippines.

 

Mangrobang said such offenses not only show "disrespect to the integrity of the BI" but also "deprived the government of much needed revenues.”

 

David’s order also provides guidelines BI officers have to follow when they suspect that the immigration documents held by aliens are fraudulent.

 

The guidelines state such documents should be referred to the anti-fraud section for examination.

 

If the documents are found fraudulent, the alien “shall be turned over to BI intelligence agents who will then commit him to the BI Detention Center pending deportation proceeding. —KG, GMA News