The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is conducting an investigation into a recent incident at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, where an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) encountered unnecessary delays despite possessing valid documents.
The OFW, Adrian Mendoza, was set to depart for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when an immigration officer allegedly questioned his Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), causing a delay in his departure.
BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado has directed an inquiry to determine whether proper procedures were followed during the encounter. He assured that if any irregularities are found, corrective actions will be taken.
The commissioner also clarified that asking questions to verify travel documents is part of standard protocol to ensure their legitimacy.
In coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the BI has improved its verification process to speed up the clearance of OFWs. Plans to introduce electronic and green lanes for more efficient processing are underway. Special lanes for OFWs have also been set up at NAIA’s arrival and departure areas.
