Four Pinays caught illegally returning to Singapore jailed

Four Filipino women have been jailed in Singapore after they were caught trying to reenter the city-state following their deportation, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Quoting the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, the DFA said the Filipinas were stopped at the airport after they were identified through a new system that detects the distinguishing features of individuals.

The Filipinas, who have not been identified, are now detained in Changi Women’s Prison after being convicted in court of illegal entry, the DFA added.

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Belen Anota said Singapore authorities usually bar immigration offenders from reentering the city-state for a period of two to three years.

However, a number of them attempt to return within the prohibited period by using another name on their passports, she added.

Anota said the immigration offenders have reentered Singapore with impunity as their deportation records are usually only discovered when they are arrested.

In such cases, authorities check the database for criminal records, she added.

Repeat offenders are charged in court for unlawful return/illegal entry and sentenced to a minimum of one year in prison, Anota said.

Anota has reported to the DFA that 14 Filipinos were arrested and convicted of unlawful return or illegal entry from June to August this year.

Six Filipinos have been convicted for the first five months of the year (January to May), representing almost a 400-percent increase in the monthly convictions of Filipinos for overstaying, unlawful return or illegal entry, she added.

Anota warned Filipinos who have been deported from Singapore not to attempt to reenter within the banned period or use false names because the city-state’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority can catch them through its new electronic biometric detection system. — Pia Lee-Brago