DOJ orders probe of escort services at NAIA

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to investigate the alleged escort service modus at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) which allows the illegal entry and exit of air passengers.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion in GMA's 24 Oras on Monday, these escort services facilitate the human trafficking of Overseas Filipino Workers and the entry of illegal foreign workers in the country.

Guevarra gave BI a month to submit a report regarding the matter.

The BI, on the other hand, said that it already launched an internal probe on the alleged escort services since May.

CCTV footage will be sifted through to check if there are immigration personnel escorting foreigners.

A total of 20 personnel of the Port of Operations Division have been investigated and other personalities are still under observation, according to BI officials.

Under the said modus, airport personnel escorts the illegal foreign worker once the plane touches down in Manila.

The foreigner will be accompanied to the immigration counter that is manned by an officer who is also a cohort.

The primary inspection of the immigration officer will then be compromised.

As the foreigner easily slips through inspections, he or she will be escorted outside the airport.

The BI said that it is verifying whether this strategy is still being exercised.

"'Yung mga ibang personalidad sa airport ay tinitingnan natin kung ano ang kanilang part dito. Ang mahalaga eh hindi natin kino-condone," said Grifton Medina, chief of BI Port Operations Division. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News