DOJ: Foreigners ordered deported can no longer stay in PH for more than 30 days

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, November 6, released its new rule that disallows foreigners ordered deported to stay for more than 30 days even if they have pending appeals.

DOJ spokesman Markk Perete said the Omnibus Rules and Regulations on Appeals on Immigration and Immigration-Related Matters was published in a daily on Wednesday.

“These rules will take effect after 15 days,” Perete told reporters.

He said that new rule, which is in accordance with the Administrative Code, was adopted for the first time.

Perete explained that under the new rule foreigners, who appealed before the DOJ the deportation order against them, will have to leave the Philippines within 30 days after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued the order.

On the other hand, Perete assured foreigners that they may return to the country if their appeal against deportation is granted by the DOJ.

Meanwhile, Perete said the DOJ and the BI continue to study possible amendments that will be introduced in the visa upon arrival (VUA) scheme.

“We hope to complete our study and recommendation on the draft proposal within the month,” said Perete, who has supervision over the BI.

The study was made due to concerns of the influx of Chinese nationals who have been abusing the use of the VUA scheme.

Iranian beauty

Meanwhile, the DOJ said on Monday that a decision on the petition for asylum sought by Iranian beauty queen Bahareh Zare Bahari may soon be handed down.

“I think malapit-lapit na madesisyunan the asylum case ni Bahareh (The asylum case will be decided soon),” Perete said.

Perete said the asylum case will be decided by the DOJ’s Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (RSPPU).

“Yung evidence presented was she claims she has been politically persecuted (The evidence presented by Bahareh show that she is being politically persecuted),” Perete said.

Perete said Bahareh claims she has been the subject of persecution due to her views which include her joining a beauty pageant which is forbidden in Iran and her use of the old Iranian flag.

In the meantime, Perete said Bahareh continues to stay at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 and is not allowed to leave until her asylum case has been resolved.

The 31-year-old beauty queen, who joined the 2018 Miss International Pageant in Manila, has been held at the NAIA Terminal 3 since October 17.