Ghana man abuses BI staff

MANILA, Philippines - A Ghanaian man is facing deportation for allegedly verbally abusing a Bureau of Immigration employee at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last May 30, the BI said yesterday.

Benjamin Akomeah, 30, went to the NAIA to board a flight for Vancouver, Canada. He was accompanied by Kristine Maceda Alingod, whom he declared to be his pregnant wife.

As an immigration officer checked his travel documents, Akomeah, who appeared to be irritated by the delay, reportedly shouted, “Filipinos are idiots!”

When BI travel control and enforcement unit supervisor Ma. Lourdes Quidangen discovered that Alingod was not his wife and not the sponsor for his temporary resident visa, Akomeah reportedly threw a fit.

When Quidangen moved to use her phone to check Akomeah’s immigration status, the foreigner grabbed her phone.

“Who are you calling, Malacañang? Don’t you know who I am? Do you know who you’re dealing with?” he was quoted as saying.

Akomeah was offloaded while Alingod voluntarily cancelled her flight. 

The BI filed a complaint for direct assault against Akomeah before the Pasay prosecutor’s office for resisting and intimidating the immigration officer.