BI nabs 37 foreigners with Philippine passports

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted 23 Indonesians and 14 Malaysians, who carried Philippine passports, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, an official said yesterday.

BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said the foreigners were among those who attended the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The foreigners arrived at around 9:45 a.m. yesterday on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mangrobang said the Malaysians and Indonesians were taken to Villamor Air Base for questioning.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered a parallel investigation to determine if immigration personnel were involved in the passport scam.

The scam involving hajj pilgrims was uncovered on Aug. 19 when BI officers intercepted 177 Indonesians as they were about to board a flight for Mecca.

According to earlier reports, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj limits the number of pilgrims per country. The quota for the Philippines is 8,000 pilgrims. With each hajj passport reportedly sold at P25,000, the proceeds of the racket can reach up to P200 million.