Dear PAO,
I have a Japanese friend and it seems that his name appears in the black list of the Philippine immigration. What should he do in order to clear his name from that list?
Ezra

Dear Ezra,
You did not mention in your letter whether or not it is actually your friend who is in the black list of the Bureau of Immigration. It is essential to know this first with certainty in order to properly remedy his situation.

Assuming that it is your friend who is actually in the black list of the Bureau of Immigration, he will not be allowed to enter the Philippines. It will, thus, be essential for him to request that the black list order issued against him be lifted and that his name be removed from the said list.

If it was the Bureau of Immigration which gave out the black list order issued against him, he must submit a duly-notarized letter addressed to the Commissioner of Immigration requesting the lifting of the aforementioned order. He should explain in his letter the reasons why he is asking for the same as well as his willingness to pay the fines or penalties due him, if there be any. It is likewise advisable for him to state in his letter why he desires to enter the Philippines.

However, it is worth noting that your friend’s request may be denied on any of the following grounds: (1) if he has been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude or of any crime penalized under Sections Forty-Five and Forty-Six of Commonwealth Act No. 613; and (2) if he has been engaged in hoarding, black-marketing or profiteering, unless he has previously resided in the Philippines immediately before his exclusion or deportation for a period of ten years or more or is married to a native Filipino woman (Section 29, Commonwealth Act No. 613).

Suppose it is not your friend who is in the black list but only someone who has the same name as his, he may apply for a clearance before the Bureau of Immigration. As part of the requirements for the issuance of the clearance, your friend must submit the following: (1) Clearance certificate issued by the office, agency or court from which the black list order originated, stating among others that he is not the person against whom the order was issued; (2) Affidavit of denial executed by him; (3) Copy of the bio page and travel stamps of his latest passport; (4) His recent photo; and (5) Payment of fee. Once he has complied with the above-stated requirements and such certificate has been issued in his favor, he must present the same upon his arrival in our ports of entry.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. Please be reminded that this advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.