The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of two illegal aliens in Metro Manila, both of whom will be deported for violating the country’s immigration laws.
Citing a report from the BI Intelligence Division, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tangsinco identified the aliens as Nigerian national Ikechukwu John Shedrack, 37, and Korean Dae Heom Kwon, 31.
Shedrack was arrested last December 12 outside the Hall of Justice building in Mandaluyong City, where he had just attended a court hearing on his case, while Kwon was nabbed the next day inside a bar along Kamias Road, Quezon City.
Shedrack is allegedly an overstaying alien, and has been using various aliases to conceal his real identity.
Kwon, on the other hand, is also an overstaying alien arrested last December 13, and is reportedly the subject of a summary deportation order issued by the BI Board of Commissioners.
Both aliens are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting deportation.
They will be placed in the immigration blacklist, and banned from re-entering the Philippines.
BI chief Tansingco attends Tokyo Immigration Forum
Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco attended the second Tokyo Immigration Forum in Tokyo, Japan last December 12 and 13.
The two-day forum, which was attended by immigration heads from different countries, including Cambodia, Canada, South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Saito Ken, Minister of Justice of Japan opened the session, while Antonio Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) delivered a keynote speech.
Discussed during the forum were the challenges of immigration control and residency management administration in recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Tansingco shared how the pandemic has disrupted the movement of persons during its onslaught, which truly tested the agency’s response as frontliners. He added that as the country traverses the new normal, opportunities for interoperability and modernization have been identified and are being initiated.
Tansingco reported upcoming modernization projects such as installing additional electronic gates, issuing label-free visas, and port clearances, automating processes, and introducing online services.
He also highlighted the agency’s drive to update its 82-year-old laws that would incorporate modern concepts to border management.
“The forum was an opportunity to learn about the best practices of immigration agencies worldwide, so we may benchmark improvements in our service,” said Tansingco. “The BI management remains fully committed in finding ways to upgrade the quality of service that we deliver to the public,” he added.
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