BI to blacklist more than 400 foreigners over fake companies in visa applications

As part of the agency’s campaign to remove illegal aliens in the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said it would blacklist 459 foreign nationals who were petitioned by fake companies in their visa applications.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said this was revealed by audit reports from the BI’s verification and compliance division.

“These foreign nationals’ applications were processed using the services of accredited entities, authorized to apply on behalf of the foreign nationals. However, through our audits, we discovered that the companies that petitioned them are spurious,” he said.

Due to this, Tansingco said that 79 accredited liaison officers are being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation while four BI lawyers are also under investigation.

Meanwhile, the BI chief said the foreign nationals' visas will be canceled. They will be ordered to leave the country and blacklisted.

According to the BI, the audit came after law enforcement agencies conducted raids that found that scam hubs and prostitution dens posed as legitimate companies.

“We are after aliens who falsify or misuse documents. Our drive against illegal aliens remains relentless, and we will continue to run after those who coddle such violators,” Tansingco said.

Sought for comment, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said what happened was “definitely a syndicate at work.”

“Napakalawak na pala ng problema, no, and ngayon na lumabas ito, we really have to do a thorough investigation and a thorough cleanse doon sa ating mga empleyado sa Immigration,” Clavano said in an ambush interview.

(The problem is really this big and it seems that we have to do a thorough investigation and a thorough cleanse on our employees in Immigration.)

According to Clavano, the scheme is both an issue of corruption and national security.

“Dahil hindi natin alam kung anong profile ng mga pumapasok dito ngayon sa Pilipinas at mas nakakaabala pa na yung ginagamit nilang passport mukhang authentic. ‘Yun pala fraudulently procured na po. So we have to check the whole process at tignan natin saan sa proseso vulnerable yung ganitong mga schemes at methods no,” he said.

(Because we don’t know the profile of those entering the Philippines and what’s more alarming is the passports they are using seem authentic. But they were fraudulently procured. So we have to check the whole process and see where we are vulnerable in schemes and methods such as this.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News