PH launches passenger info systems to track terrorists, fugitives

Bureau of Immigration counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. —File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The national government on Thursday launched enhanced passenger information systems that would enable authorities to both detect and block the travel of known and suspected terrorists and fugitives to the country.

The passenger systems — called Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) — were launched following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Philippines and the United Nations (UN).

READ: BI’s Advanced Passenger Information System set to launch in March

The agreement equipped the Philippines with the license to fully implement the UN-developed GoTravelAir Software Solution, which will enhance the country’s ability to track and assess passenger data in real-time.

“With the use of the API and PNR system, we will be able to identify risks before they reach our borders, prevent individuals linked to terrorism and transnational crimes from moving freely, and improve law enforcement and coordination across agencies,” JusticeUndersecretary Raul Vasquez said in a speech during the system’s launching.

“With this system in place, we reduce the risk of threats seeping through our immigration controls. We also prevent travel document fraud, strengthen risk assessments, and ensure that our security agencies have the tools to act swiftly and effectively,” he added.

In a chance interview, Immigration chief Joel Viado explained the new system would allow the country to no longer rely on other governments for information involving passengers entering the Philippines.

Instead, Viado said the new system would equip the Bureau of Immigration with real-time information-gathering capabilities.

“So as soon as they enter, as soon as they check in to the plane, as soon as they are on their way to the Philippines, we will know whether a passenger should be allowed in or not,” Viado said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, the section chief of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Christine Bradley, gave the assurance that the system would strictly comply with international standards and practices, ensuring strict privacy considerations for personal and passenger data.

The Philippines is the seventh member state and the first country in Southeast Asia to deploy the GoTravel software.

Other countries that deployed the system through a partnership with the UN include Norway, Luxembourg, Georgia, Moldova, and Botswana.