Passengers denied entry into Philippines stuck at NAIA

Some arrivals at NAIA Terminal 1 are now stuck in the transit lounge area after the Bureau of Immigration denied them entry into the country for various reasons.

According to Bureau of Immigration (BI) deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac, possible reasons include having been charged with or convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, such as sex offenses; having been blacklisted; or having Interpol alerts issued against them.

To provide them with some privacy, wooden dividers with a sign saying "Inadmissible Passenger Holding Area" have been set up for them. Some have settled into the gang chairs, while others have laid down cardboard on the floor to sleep on.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Jose Ines said they are aware of the situation and are taking action. They have tried to coordinate with the BI to transfer the excluded passengers to NAIA Terminal 3, but this was not allowed by the bureau.

Mabulac said once a passenger is excluded, they are turned over to the airline operator and should be boarded on the first available flight without waiting. 

“We have to understand there are security concerns. Once yan ay ma-exclude itini-turn over po yan natin sa airline operator and it should be boarded the first available flight. There should not be waiting time. Yan po ang konsepto kasi they are threat to our national security,” he said.

The BI is strictly implementing the exclusion policy in accordance with the Philippine Immigration Act for national security. As of last year, more than 3,300 passengers were reportedly denied entry into the Philippines.

Steps to provide more suitable accommodation for the excluded passengers are being considered. MIAA head executive assistant Chris Bendijo said the agency is exploring repurposing the original day room and emphasized that airlines should be more responsive in immediately flying out these excluded passengers.

“We will continue to look for more suitable locations, more humanitarian. It’s not acceptable that even if they are excluded passengers that they will be sleeping on cartons or sa mga sahig. We are exploring either yun nga repurposing yung original na day room. Our airlines should be more responsive to these matters because it is their obligation for these excluded passengers to be flown out immediately,” Bendijo said. — BM, GMA Integrated News