BI renews order vs ‘escorts’ at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines -  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday renewed its order against “escort service” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente directed immigration personnel to strictly enforce a policy prohibiting the giving of special treatment to passengers.

Morente said unauthorized persons are off-limits at immigration areas at the NAIA and other international airports nationwide.

He specifically ordered NAIA port operations division chief Marc Red Mariñas to impose disciplinary penalties on immigration personnel who would violate the policy.

The order bans immigration personnel from escorting arriving and departing passengers, either personally or through text messages or phone calls to expedite procedures at the BI counters.

Morente said only BI employees who are on duty and those who have travel orders are allowed to be at the airport premises.

The BI chief issued the directive after receiving reports that the group of alleged gambling operator Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barreto was escorted by Ciriaco Peralta, a retired policeman who introduced himself as a media practitioner.

Mariñas explained that Peralta escorted Ang, Barreto and company to the immigration counter of the NAIA Terminal 1 following their arrival from Bangkok on Monday night.

Reports said that Peralta was wearing a pass from the airport’s pass control office, which was why he was allowed at the NAIA by the Border Control and Intelligence Unit.

Mariñas maintained that no immigration officer was involved in the escort service.

Morente said he would ask Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal to investigate the incident.