The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has not issued any order to inspect entertainment establishments in Manila to determine if there are “aliens illegally working.”
In a statement, the DOJ stressed that BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco had denied that an order had been issued by him.
The BI further warned foreign nationals about the fake operations order circulating in chat groups on the internet.
“No such order has been issued by the BI. Our operatives are not authorized to randomly inspect establishments, but instead are required to secure a mission order to conduct an arrest,” the DOJ statement said, quoting Tansingco as saying.
Tansingco said that a mission order “is only issued upon thorough investigation and confirmation that the subject foreign national has indeed violated immigration laws.”
The DOJ said the BI, which is under the DOJ’s administrative supervision, issued the advisory after having received reports concerning the fake order. With Vito Barcelo
It said the fake order indicated that BI personnel have been directed to inspect and search for illegal aliens in entertainment places in Manila including those in bars, karaoke joints, music houses, golf clubs, bowling alleys, internet cafes, amusement parks, casinos, hotels, guest houses, and restaurants.
Tansingco said that the operations order titled ‘checking overstaying and illegal employment in various entertainment places’ was not issued by the BI.
Tansingco believes that the fake order is being used by syndicates that scare foreign nationals in the country to scam them. He said that any such instance should be reported immediately to local law enforcement agencies. Vito Barcelo