Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, August 30 urged the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and other concernged government agencies to defer the implementation of the new departure rules amid the concerns of the general public on the burdensome travel requirements.

Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, also said there is a need to review these rules which airport authorities are bent on imposing starting September 3 to outbound Filipino travelers.

“The lingering doubts and questions about the new rules must not be swept under the rug,” Poe said.

“Authorities must make traveling through our airports secure against human traffickers, but without being too complicated,” she further said.

The senator said a second look at the guidelines is in order to avert inconveniences, costs and legal complications that passengers may encounter on the day of their flight.

Poe also raised the validity of the concerns of individuals and various sectors that the new rules could result to possible infringement of the right to travel.

She also pointed out that the requirement to present proof of financial capacity is a serious breach of privacy.

Poe, who has led committee investigations on the delays and inefficiencies at the airports, also said the long list of documents required of certain travelers will also entail time and costs, an added burden to the travelers.

“We welcome the move to address delays and inefficiencies at our airports and curb the scourge of human trafficking. But, doing so should not be at the expense of legitimate Filipino travelers,” Poe said.

Instead, concerned agencies must train their sights on capacitating immigration personnel to spot trafficking, beefing up security at the country's borders and at the same time, cleansing their ranks of corrupt and inefficient people.

“May kasabihan na kung may hinahanap kang daga, bakit mo susunugin ang buong bahay (There’s a saying that if you are looking for a rat, why burn the whole house down)?" Poe said.

“Sa bagong patakarang ito, baka mas paparusahan pa ang ating mga kababayang lehitimong byahero kung hindi sasawatahin ang korapsyon sa loob ng ahensya (With these new rules, we might just be adding additional burden to our compatriots who are legitimate travelers if we do not eradicate corruption within the agency),” she stressed.