PH ports under tight watch as Christmas rush nears – BI

TBy he Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday that numerous immigration officers earlier reassigned to the provinces will be recalled shortly to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to address the expected surge of departing and arriving passengers during the peak of the Christmas holiday season.

This was disclosed by BI Associate Commissioner Gilbert U. Repizo who vowed to implement to the letter the marching orders he received from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to fight human trafficking syndicates and stop the entry of undesirable aliens, including international terrorists, into the country.

Repizo issued the statement days after Justice Secretary Alfredo Caguioa designated him "Commissioner-in-Charge" of border control operations nationwide, a task previously handled by BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

BI insiders observed that the DOJ's controversial order virtually gave Repizo full and undisputed authority to manage BI operations in all of the country's airports and seaports.

Initially, Repizo abolished the border monitoring security and counter intelligence units at the NAIA and reassigned some of its personnel to the Office of the Commissioner (OCOM).

Repizo, however, said that he is "open to request for transfer of assignments from Manila to provinces for meritorious reasons but the final decision still lies with him as commissioner-in-charge of border control."

Repizo, meanwhile, relieved the bureau's acting alien control officer (ACO) in Laoag City pending the result of the National Bureau of Investigation into the alleged unabated entry and exit of foreign nationals using fake travel and work papers via the said port.

He also promised not to overstep the bounds of the powers that were given to him or usurp the powers and functions that Mison exercises as BI commissioner.

He chided his detractors for using the social media in criticizing him for being allegedly over ambitious and condescending due to his vast powers.

"I have barely started in this new job but some people are already ganging up on me and want me to fail instead of helping me succeed in improving the state of our immigration service." Repizo added.

Caguioa's directive gave Repizo exclusive authority to reassign and reshuffle immigration officers and intelligence agents deployed in the ports of entry, including the NAIA.

The BI is one of the agencies under the DOJ.