BI lifts ban on blacklisted HK journalists

The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday lifted a ban on nine Hong Kong journalists, upon the recommendation of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

 

In a Facebook post, the BI said the "foreign nationals" were included in the blacklist on the NICA's recommendation.

 

With this, it said the nine covered by the blacklist order dated June 6, 2014 "may now enter the Philippines as tourists, subject to regular immigration inspection."

 

"Upon evaluation of the NICA letter dated November 21, 2014 and received by the BI yesterday (November 24), the BI has deemed it proper to lift the blacklist order against the foreign nationals," BI spokesperson Atty. Elaine Tan said.

 

"Following normal protocol, the BI heavily relied on the advice of the NICA to lift the blacklist as NICA is presumed to be in a better position to know the facts surrounding the initial finding of undesirability and subsequent reversal of such finding," she added.

 

Citing the NICA letter, Tan said the blacklist order was recommended lifted as no untoward incident transpired during President Benigno Aquino III's visit to China for the 26th APEC Summit.

 

Earlier, Malacañang requested the BI to review the blacklist order against nine Hong Kong television and radio journalists who allegedly heckled Aquino last year.

 

Tan said one of the grounds cited by the NICA in its recommendation was “on the interest of public safety,” as the journalists reportedly showed disrepect toward Aquino during the APEC in 2013.

 

But the statement did not identify the nine Hong Kong journalists. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News