100 BI top officials reshuffled

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reshuffled its more than a hundred immigration officials holding top posts at airports and subports nationwide to improve its services.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Justice Secretary MenardoGuevarra issued last week a department order directing the reshuffle of the 59 BI airport officials, 49 of whom are assigned at the three terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while the rest are stationed at the Clark and Davao airports.

Guevarra also reshuffled the alien control officers (ACOs) in-charge of more than 40 BI offices nationwide.

Morente said that in compliance with Guevarra’s directive, he issued personnel orders instructing the concerned officials to report to their new assignments and assume their duties immediately.

“This revamp is long overdue. Many of the airport officials have been in their posts for more than a year already while many ACOs have been in their jobs for more than five years. It’s time to give them new tasks so they can face new challenges and responsibilities,” the BI chief said.

BI Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas welcomed the revamp, saying that the reshuffle was primarily aimed to develop the career of the affected employees and enhance their performance and efficiency.

“It also prevents fraternization which breeds corruption and avert boredom that dampens morale and stifles growth in the organization,” said Mariñas, who heads the BI port operations (POD).

Heads and supervisors of the travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) conducting secondary inspection on travelers, and of the border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) performing intelligence and counter-intelligence activities at the airports, were likewise reshuffled.