BI officers trained to detect fraudulent travel papers

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. warned yesterday that international terrorists and other fugitives will now have a hard time slipping into the country’s airports after 240 immigration officers completed training on the detection of fraudulent travel documents.

In a statement, Fernandez said that since they started the Customer Service Excellence Training Program two years ago, some 240 immigration officers have finished the course.

He said the training was part of the bureau’s policy to improve its campaign to prevent the entry of suspected terrorists and other undesirable aliens involved in transnational crimes.

He said their officers were given training on the proper way to facilitate the entry of regular travelers.

The training courses that were held at the Philippine Immigration Academy in Clark Field, Pampanga were conducted in several batches.

Trainers from the governments of Australia, the United States and Canada shared their expertise in the fields of border control and management with the officers.

Some of the fraud prevention officers from the different embassies, based in the country, also became resource persons.

Just last month, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it established a computer link-up with the International Police (Interpol).

Fernandez said the tie-up with the Interpol is part of their efforts to modernize the bureau’s operational capability to deter foreign fugitives from entering the country.

The project, dubbed as Interpol I-24/7, aims to promote cooperation in migration and border control management.

"As a result of the linkup, the BI can now access and share information with Interpol regarding foreigners wanted for various crimes in their homeland, including terrorists, drug traffickers, murderers, and kidnappers," Fernandez said.

Through the Internet, the BI would also have access to the Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes (PCTC), which serves as a conduit to other law enforcement agencies that could also provide information on foreign fugitives that might hide in the country.

This would also improve coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which has its own Interpol Division currently headed by lawyer Claro de Castro Jr.