Duterte warns BI agents: Don’t extort money from tourists

President Duterte has warned immigration officers he would send them to Jolo, Sulu, if they were found to have extorted money from tourists, especially Chinese and Koreans.

“Immigration officers, if a tourist has already exited their airport and is given so many days to stay [in the Philippines], don’t ever approach them, especially the Koreans and the Chinese,” he said.

“I’m ordering now that you immigration officers and police should not approach any of the tourist in the guise of questioning their stay or [asking for] valid papers.”

The President stressed that only Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente could issue an order.

“[Morente] is the only one who can issue orders. But do not do it because once I learn about it,

I will assign you to Jolo, where the Islamic State [members] are entering,” he added. —JULIE M. AURELIO