32 foreigners barred entry to PH thru use of Advance Passenger Information System - BI
Thirty-two “high-risk foreigners” have been barred from entering the Philippines since the implementation of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) this year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.
“Through APIS, we are able to flag high-risk individuals and stop them from entering the country before they could even disembark,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado in a statement.
The APIS, which makes use of the United Nations’ (UN) goTravel Air Software Solution, started to be implemented last March.
The BI explained the APIS is “a digital platform that allows authorities to screen inbound travelers even before they arrive, bolstering national security through early threat detection.”
“Since local carrier Cebu Pacific became the first airline to submit passenger data via APIS, the system has flagged a total of 32 Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) hits,” it said.
“These include 26 entries from the Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database and six alerts from the Nominal database, which identifies fugitives and individuals linked to terrorism and serious crimes,” it disclosed.
The BI said the more airline companies have adopted APIS like the Philippine Airlines, Kuwait Airways, and Etihad Airways.
“This proactive approach aligns with President Marcos’ vision of a safer, more secure Bagong Pilipinas and strengthens our commitment to international cooperation and public safety.” Viado stressed.