CAR LGUs support BI drive vs. undesirable aliens

LOCAL government units in the Cordillera region have vowed to report to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) the presence of foreign nationals in their respective areas of responsibility.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said over the weekend local governments in the region had agreed to support BI’s request to provide the agency information on the presence of foreign nationals in their places.

On Feb. 12, the BI wrote Domogan a letter about the agency’s drive against undocu- mented aliens, improperly documented aliens, and the threat of terrorism. Domogan is the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of the Cordillera.

“We respectfully seek assistance from your esteemed office in monitoring foreigners in the entire region of Cordillera," Wilson Amogcao, head of the anti-terrorism unit of the BI-Cordillera, said in the letter.

In getting the support of the LGUs in the region’s, Amigcai asked for Domogan’s

endorsement and intervention to coordinate with the different cities, municipalities, barangays, and local law enforcement agencies to periodically monitor all foreign nationals in their respective areas.

In Friday’s joint Regional Development Council (RDC)-RPOC meeting, the group approved the BI's request and vowed to support the anti-terror drive.

“Peace, order, and security are necessary ingredients for attaining inclusive growth and sustainable development. Thus, the chapter on ensuring security, public order, and safety of the 20172022 CAR regional development and Philippine Development Plans urgently calls for the reduction of criminality and terrorism at the regional and national levels, ” the RDC's draft resolution read.

The RDC also suggested all foreign nationals register in the barangays where they are staying and coordinate with the hotels to report identities of their guests who are foreign nationals. The council also recommended that hotels make it a requirement that their foreign guests present their passports upon checkin.