GAGASTUSAN NG GOBYERNO ANG PASAHERO NA MAIIWAN NG EROPLANO DAHIL NAIPIT SA BI INTERVIEW

Headlines Ngayon

February 12

Mayroong probisyon sa ilalim ng 2024 national budget para bayaran ng Bureau of Immigration (BI) ang dagdag na gastos ng mga pasahero na maiiwan ng eroplano dahil sa matagal na secondary inspection na ginagawa ng mga immigration officer.

Ayon sa 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) kung pipigilan ng immigration officer ang isang pasahero na umalis ng bansa kahit na walang kaukulang court order, ang BI ang sasagot sa dagdag na gastos nito sa pamasahe.

Ang pondo na kakailanganin para rito ay kukunin sa special trust fund ng BI, ayon kay House Committee on Appropriations Vice chairperson at Makati City Rep. Luis Jose Angel Campos.

"The special provision strikes a balance between the right of every Filipino to travel, and the BI's obligation to enforce immigration laws," sabi ni Campos. "Right now, we are still awaiting the guidelines to be issued by the BI, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Commission on Audit (COA) with respect to the implementation of the special provision."

Nabatid na si Sen. Francis Escudero ang nagsulong ng naturang probisyon sa 2024 national budget.

Batay sa datos ng BI, sinabi ni Escudero na 32,404 Pilipinong pasahero ang naiwan ng eroplano dahil naipit sa immigration noong 2022 at sa bilang na ito 472 lamang ang napatunayan na biktima ng human trafficking o illegal recruitment.

Sa kanyang budget message, pumabor si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa "conditional implementation" ng naturang special provision.

"Moreover, I acknowledge the noble intent of Congress in including the proviso in DOJ-Bureau of Immigration (Bl), Special Provision No. 1, "Immigration Fees and Collections," Volume l-A, page 1131, that travel expenses incurred by Filipino passengers who were deferred or denied boarding without a court order shall be charged from the balance of the special trust fund account. However, it must be clearly understood that this should not render nugatory the mandate of the BI to administer and enforce immigration laws, as well as RA No. 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), sabi ng budget message ng Pangulo.

Isang guidelines ang inaasahang ilalabas ng BI, COA, at DBM para sa pagpapatupad ng probisyong ito.

IKE ENRIQUE - HN NEWS CONTRIBUTOR