Being an immigration officer – a frontliner in securing the Philippines’ border post – is no easy job.
Despite the hardships they face, officials and staff of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) still persevere in their goal of providing a swift and safe travel experience for travelers, Filipinos and foreigners alike.
"As law enforcers, IOs [immigration officers] are always stuck between the relentless clashing of the public and the rules set by our authorities," “Anna,” an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), told the media.
"Frankly, being an IO can be a thankless job, as we see the social media inundated with intense hatred for IOs for merely exercising the bureau’s mandate and mission," she added.
Not only do IOs face scrutiny in social media due to false claims, there have been times when they face formal complaints.
"One of the challenges of being an IO at international ports is the high chances of having administrative cases and even criminal cases filed against them while in the performance of their duty of protecting our borders and deterring trafficking-in-persons," Anna added.
She said immigration officers tend to use their money for legal defense counsel and worse, are to receive threats in the performance of duty.
"There are even officers who receive death threats from passengers and their relatives, as well as other disgruntled netizens who believe that the protocols implemented by BI are harsh, unfair, and unconstitutional," Anna said.
For its part, the BI said it is never its intention to cause "senseless harassment or stress" to departing Filipinos.
"One’s exclusion or deferral of departure may seem purposeless or heartless for some, but in the grand scheme of things, the existing immigration guidelines are in effect to safeguard the welfare of our nation as a whole," Anna said.
The Philippines has been cited among the many countries with job seekers susceptible to forced labor abroad via online illegal recruitment based on the US Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report on June 2023.
"Rather than fulfilling their advertised employment promises, many of these companies began forcing the recruits to run internet scams directed at international targets and subjecting them to a wide range of abuses and violations," the report reads.
Trafficked victims reportedly experience abuse including "withheld travel and identity documentation; imposition of arbitrary debt; restricted access to food, water, medicine, communication, and movement, and threats, beatings, and electric shocks."
Under the complex human trafficking schemes, Filipino victims may be obliged to perform "quota-based fraudulent sales; illegal online gambling and investment schemes and romance scams."
Sacrifices
As frontline officers, immigration officers often had to sacrifice quality time for their family and friends in order to perform their duties.
To ensure unhampered daily airport operations, Anna recalled staying at the NAIA Terminal 2 for days.
She added their function remains regardless of seasons and disaster hazards.
"When it’s the holiday season, typical Filipino families spend their time off together; when there’s a storm or other natural events that pose danger to the lives of the people, IOs are duty-bound to show up at international ports," she said.
Despite all these challenges, Anna expressed an even more vigorous will to safeguard the country's borders for the Filipino people.
"Our agency may not be perfect as we also have our share of shortcomings, but as long as we have honest and passionate IOs... (the) BI shall remain steadfast in performing its mandate with the highest degree of patriotism, integrity, and professionalism at all times," she said.
"Sa gitna ng ingay ng sari-saring kontrobersya na may kaakibat na panghuhusga, minsan nakakapagod na, pero sabi nga nila, pahinga lang, tapos laban ulit para sa bayan," Anna added.
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