BI clamps down on NAIA ‘escorts’

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are prohibited from “loafing, facilitating and escorting” arriving and departing passengers, an official said yesterday.

In a statement, BI Port Operations Division chief said he issued a memorandum reminding the bureau’s personnel that there is an existing regulation and employees caught violating the rule would be meted stiff disciplinary sanctions and slapped with administrative cases.

He also banned BI personnel from entering NAIA’s immigration areas outside of their tour of duty or terminal assignment.

Medina said he issued the memorandum amid reports that BI personnel are engaged in “escort service” activities.

 Medina also mentioned in the same memorandum that BI Commissioner Jaime Morente had given instructions that NAIA’s immigration areas have been “sanitized” by making them off-limits to non-BI personnel. – Rudy Santos