MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a statement to clarify its responsibilities when dealing with Filipinos with arrest warrants at entry and exit points.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco provided this clarification following concerns raised by Senator Robin Padilla during his recent speech on September 5.
Padilla highlighted the case of Mohammad Said, a 61-year-old man reportedly apprehended by the BI on August 10 while attempting to depart for Malaysia.
Commissioner Tansingco emphasized that the BI’s role does not include the arrest of Filipinos, as immigration officers are not authorized to serve arrest warrants against citizens of the Philippines. Instead, this responsibility falls under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement agencies, such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Tansingco elaborated on the BI’s functions, stating that they implement derogatory records provided by courts, Interpol, foreign governments, and other competent authorities. When individuals with criminal records are identified, the BI hands them over to the NBI or the PNP, who are responsible for conducting investigations and making arrests.
Regarding the case of Mohammad Said, Tansingco clarified that Said had been intercepted due to his status as the subject of an Interpol red notice issued back in 2017. This notice contained comprehensive personal information about Said, including his full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and passport number.
Tansingco underlined that the BI does not have the authority to alter or modify any information within these derogatory records. Their role is strictly to enforce the details provided by authorized agencies. He stressed that the actions taken by immigration officers were consistent with their designated duties, especially considering that all the information in the derogatory record matched Said’s identity.
The BI’s clarification aims to address any misconceptions and concerns surrounding its involvement in the apprehension of individuals with arrest warrants. It reinforces the fact that the BI’s role is to implement the information provided by authorized agencies while leaving the arrest and investigative processes to the NBI and the PNP. This clarification ensures that the proper legal procedures are followed by the relevant law enforcement authorities.
