BI turns away 74 'rude' foreign nationals from entering PH

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration has turned away 74 "rude, arrogant" foreign nationals who wished to enter the country in 2017.

According to the Immigration chief Jaime Morente, the immigration has been implementing its long-existing policy to "exclude or disallow the entry of foreigner who show disrespect or make offensive utterances to symbols of Philippine authority."

"The entry and stay of foreigners in the country is not a right but a mere privilege," Morente stressed, adding: "They ought to show respect and courtesy to immigration officers upon their arrival in our ports of entry."

The policy has been included in a memorandum dated March 29, 2001, issued by then-Immigrations chief Andrea Domingo.

BI Spokesperson Maria Antonette Mangrobang said that the said the foreign nationals barred from entering the country are those who "refuse to answer questions propounded to them by the immigration officers and would shout invectives."

Travelers who also "got drunk in the plane and refuse to go through immigration formalities" were also turned away by immigration officers, said Mangrobang.

Those deemed by immigration officers as rude foreign passenger may also put him in the immigration blacklist that will prevent him from returning to the country.
BI ports operation chief Marc Red Mariñas said: "This is done to teach these arrogant and discourteous foreigners the lesson that ours is a sovereign country."
A foreign national that was placed under the immigration blacklist may appeal for his removal to the immigration commissioner by citing meritorious reasons and apologizing for his misconduct.