Three immigration officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have been placed under investigation following the attempt of four Chinese nationals to evade inspection, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday, June 5.
Immigration Commissioner Anthony M. Viado did not disclose the names of those under investigation.
He, however, identified the four Chinese nationals who were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last June 2 as Zhang Zhaoya, Wang Linmei, Qi Xiangyang, and Chen Wenda.
“Any personnel found to have assisted in the circumvention of immigration procedures will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law,” Viado declared.
The BI said the four Chinese nationals were about to board their separate flights to China and Vietnam. However, they were flagged for various immigration violations.
“Zhang has been overstaying since July 2024, while Wang and Qi have both been overstaying since September 2024,” the BI disclosed.
“Chen, although holding a valid working visa, was found without the required Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), a mandatory requirement for departing long term residents,” it added.
The BI said the four Chinese nationals will face charges for violating the Philippine immigration laws.
“This interception reflects the Bureau’s firm resolve to prevent foreign nationals who violate our immigration laws from escaping accountability,” Viado said.
“We are implementing redundancy checks, utilizing CCTV (closed circuit television) monitoring systems, and strengthening coordination among our units to prevent these attempts,” he added.