|
Have P10,000, will travel.
For some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, a
simple visit to Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
would not be complete without a bundle of money in their pockets.
The money, however, is not for shopping or airfare. It’s for
immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
who allegedly extort as much as P10,000 from departing OFWs.
A new group of OFWs called Bagong Bayani Lakas ng Bayan (Bayanikasan)
yesterday alleged that several Bureau of Immigration employees
stationed at the NAIA milk OFWs for "supporting pesos" in the guise
of asking for more "supporting papers" even though they already have
the proper documents.
Bayanikasan officials, who asked not to be named, said they have
documented a number of complaints from OFWs victimized by the new
racket.
Some had to reschedule their flights as they are unaware of this new
requirement (payment of P10,000 aside from the terminal fee) and are
only informed once inside the Immigration office at the NAIA. "Is
this a new rule?" an OFW asked.
Bayanikasan officials added they have informed Presidential Adviser
on Overseas Filipino Communities Heherson Alvarez about the
irregularities and have forwarded to him a formal letter of
complaint and petition from 42 OFWs.
Alvarez, in an interview with The Star, said he has relayed the
complaints to Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo.
Domingo, he added, has already vowed "to look into the complaints
and sanction those involved to strengthen the faith of OFWs in our
government."
Domingo reportedly issued a Memorandum Order last June 9 ordering
"all immigration personnel to allow the immediate departure of OFWs
and their families who already hold documents as required by law,
without further delay or the need for any other supporting papers."
Filipino workers are allowed by the UAE to apply for a visit visa
for their relatives provided that they present a copy of their valid
passports and execute an affidavit of support that they receive a
salary of at least US$1,092.90 or an invitation from the
employer-company.
"Once these requirements are complied with, the host country is
willing to give visas to their relatives. But as reported to me, the
visiting relatives are harassed and rudely treated by immigration
officials at the NAIA. And worse, they are not allowed to leave
unless they cough up the ‘supporting pesos’ that varies between
US$200 to US$250 or its equivalent in pesos," Alvarez said.
|
