The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has alerted all its personnel manning the country’s sea and airports to remain on alert for any attempt by international terrorists to enter the Philippines.
“Our personnel in all international airports and seaports nationwide are always on alert to prevent these foreign terrorists from slipping into the country,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.
He issued the statement after the Japanese authorities reported about terror threats on some Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.
However, both the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the reports have yet to be confirmed and validated.
Morente bared that aliens deemed as likely to become public charge or pose threat to public safety are subjected to secondary inspection.
“Those who fail to satisfactorily explain their purpose in coming are turned away and booked on the first available flight back to their port of origin,” Morente added.
Morente assured that the BI continues to maintain a database of suspected international terrorists and any attempt by them to enter the Philippines will surely be foiled by immigration inspectors at the port of entry.
“We have a shared database with local and international intelligence agencies including the Interpol. This database are integrated into the electronic system, regularly updated, and is used by our immigration officers in processing and conducting arrival formalities for passengers, thus allowing us to detect such attempts,” the BI chief explained.
Morente added that due to ongoing travel bans following the coronavirus pandemic, the entry of aliens remain restricted.