BI: ‘Distressed’ Vietnamese woman briefly held at NAIA
FILE PHOTO: Bureau of Immigration (BI) counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). A female Vietnamese was temporarily stopped from flying to Hanoi on Sunday, June 9, 2024, as she appeared “distressed” to be allowed to continue her travel, the BI said. INQUIRER FILES
SUBIC BAY, ZAMBALES — A female Vietnamese was temporarily stopped from flying to Hanoi over the weekend as she appeared “distressed” to be allowed to continue her travel, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.
According to the BI, the unnamed foreigner “unexpectedly began to undress and walked nakedly towards the Office of Transportation Security (OTS)” during a routine inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3.
This behavior raised concern from immigration officers and passengers, prompting airport personnel to temporarily disallow her travel on Sunday, June 9.
READ: Bureau of Immigration blocks entry of 25 foreigners at Naia
“Considering the incident and to ensure the safety and comfort of the Vietnamese national, the BI officers decided to seek assistance from the concerned airline,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement Thursday.
The BI said the airline deferred her departure to ensure that she first receive proper assistance.
The Vietnamese woman was eventually allowed to board the next available flight following immigration agents’ assessment.
