BI: Up to P5M offer for BI blacklist removal a scam

The reported offers circulating on social media for the removal of names from the Bureau of Immigration’s blacklist in exchange of P1 million to P5 million is a scam, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Thursday.

“Sa tingin po natin, isa po ito doon sa mga kumakalat na scams na nagi-invite po na mag-transact with them online,” Sandoval said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(We think that this is one of those scams where people are invited to transact with the scammers online.)

This was after an anti-crime watchdog said they received reports of online offers for the removal from the BI’s blacklist.

Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) chairperson Ka Kuen Chua said the offers were circulating on Chinese social media platforms.

“We noticed po, na mention po during the Senate hearing that nakikita daw po itong mga advertisements na ito sa Facebook So we’re worried po na isa na naman ito sa mga scams na dati po naming ina-advise sa public,” Sandoval said.

(It was mentioned during the Senate hearing that the advertisements were seen on Facebook so we’re worried that this is one of the scams we advised the public against.)

Further, Sandoval said they did not observe any irregularities in the inclusion or removal of names from the blacklist.

“So far po wala naman po tayong nakikita na mga kakaibang activities doon sa lifting ng blacklist or nung mga inclusion ng blacklist and other such immigration transactions po,” she said.

(So far, we didn't notice any irregular activities on the lifting or inclusion of names from the blacklist and other such immigration transactions.)

According to Sandoval, there are millions of foreign nationals included on the blacklist.

“Ito po ay different immigration violations. Kasama na rin po diyan ‘yung mga indigency, mga overstaying, and other such violations,” Sandoval said.

(These are for different immigration violations including indigency, those overstaying, and other such violations.)

Meanwhile, she said there are currently more than 300 foreign nationals detained at the BI Warden Facility.

The facility can only hold around 100 foreign nationals.—AOL, GMA Integrated News