Financial capacity not a requirement to travel–Immigration chief

Bureau of Immigration building. Photo from Bureau of Immmigration website

MANILA, Philippines – Netizens were irate over a newspaper story that said financial capacity may be required to travel abroad. But the immigration chief was quick to clear the confusion.

In a statement on Saturday, Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioner Siegfred Mison clarified that financial capacity was not a requisite for Filipinos to travel abroad either as tourists or overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

“The right to travel is enshrined in the Constitution and enjoyed by every Filipino citizen,” Mison said.

He made the statement following a report that “no Filipino traveling as tourist will be allowed to leave the country unless he can show proof of financial capability to travel, proof of work and financial support from benefactors.”

The report cited the Immigration’s “strict” memorandum that aimed to curb the exodus of undocumented OFWs abroad as well as protect victims of human trafficking.

Mison said immigration has the mandate to “offload” – meaning disallow a traveller to board a plane – but it is not the government’s policy.

“Offloading is not a policy but a consequence of the implementation of the guidelines.” Mison said.

Despite Mison’s statement, the BI on its website said, “The right to travel of a Filipino is not absolute.”

“Section 6, Article III of the 1987 Constitution guarantees the right to travel of every citizen, however, it may only be impaired for the interest of national security, public safety or public health, as may be provided by law,” the bureau said.

A cursory look at the BI memorandum also shows that “financial capability to travel” is an assessment point during the second inspection.

According to the “Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International Bound Passengers,” the bureau may inspect travelers based on his or her “financial capability to travel.”

“If not financially capable to travel, an authenticated affidavit of support, indicating therein the relationship within the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, together with the supporting documents… and an affidavit of undertaking/ guaranty… may be entertained,” the memorandum read.

“Tourists must prove their financial capability for the trip, present proof of work or support in the Philippines, or submit an affidavit of support if they are visiting relatives overseas, to prevent being offloaded from flights,” the immigration also said in a separate statement.

Also, those who do not have the financial capacity to travel or who are accompanied by a foreigner will “automatically by subjected to secondary inspection,” the memorandum read.

The guidelines, which have been in effect since January 2012, list the requirements for travelers based on their purpose of travel. It was drafted by a technical working group formed under Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Netizens bit by the traveling bug were confused over the effect of the guidelines on them.

The Immigration’s latest Facebook post clarifying the news received over 50 comments, mostly from irate netizens who expressed their frustration with the rules.

“What the hell? This violates not only my right to travel freely but also my right to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise,” Patrick Louie Bonifacio commented.

“By requiring us to show financial proof you have already labelled us as violating human trafficking laws. Shouldn’t (it) be (the) other way around? The burden of proof should not fall unto us,” he wrote.

“This policy violates my right to travel. My basic human rights supersede your intent to ‘protect’ me,” Joe Sibayan commented.

“Why? Are you an embassy? It’s like we’re applying for a visa if we need to show those things to you. Does this even have any legal basis?” Yunika Lee posted.

One Facebook user, however, supported the Immigration’s guidelines.

“I think ‘off-loading’passengers who may be subjected to human trafficking once they arrive in their destination is quite right… If you are a genuine tourist, you will not hesitate to present your proofs that you can afford your trip and that you have an intention to come back home,” Bien Cordingley commented.

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