Bureau of Immigration on alert for 9/11 anniversary

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has placed all its personnel in airports and seaports across the country on heightened alert in time for the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States on Tuesday.

In a memorandum order sent to officials of the bureau’s airport operations, immigration regulation and intelligence divisions, Immigration chief Ricardo David Jr. advised the exercise of utmost vigilance in all ports in the country.

“You shall closely monitor those who could pose potential threats to national security, especially suspected foreign terrorists,” David said in the memorandum.

Should a visiting foreign passenger be found inadmissible, he or she should be turned back, excluded and booked on the next available flight back to his or her port of origin, David instructed.

The BI chief issued the alert order to prevent the entry of foreign terrorists, who might stage violent activities to mark the anniversary of the bloody 9-11 attacks that killed more than 2,990 people in 2001, said Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI spokesperson and acting intelligence chief.

She also disclosed yesterday that the bureau had blacklisted hundreds of foreigners suspected of involvement in terrorism.

She said these aliens included on the list were all subject to immediate exclusion upon arrival in any of the more than 50 international airports and seaports throughout the country.