BI personnel relieved over NAIA ops

Seven Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel assigned at NAIA have been relieved due to allegations of assisting Filipinos traveling to Myanmar via Thailand.

BI Commissioner Joel Viado confirmed that 15 out of 176 repatriated trafficking victims identified specific immigration officers who assisted them.

Show-cause orders were issued to the implicated personnel, and they were immediately relieved of their duties at the airport while investigations are ongoing.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian lauded the BI's decision, calling it a positive step in the government's fight against transnational crime and emphasizing the need for a stronger crackdown on corruption.

Commissioner Viado stressed that any form of assistance in irregular departures is a 'red flag' and highlighted the importance of balancing the right to travel with state monitoring to prevent trafficking.

The BI is intensifying its internal cleansing efforts, emphasizing the need for additional training for immigration officers to better distinguish legitimate travelers from potential trafficking victims.