|
By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has adopted a new
color-coding warning system to strengthen security at all entry and
exit points to prevent the entry of suspected foreign terrorists in
the country.
In a memorandum, BI Commissioner Marcelino
Libanan said immigration officers said the system should be
implemented immediately.
“There has to be in place a system wherein our
ports of entry are on a continuous state of preparedness to ensure
that we diligently perform our mandate as gatekeepers of the
country,” Libanan said.
The immigration chief said the new warning
system to be adopted in all entry and exit points was issued to
address the continuing threats posed by foreign terrorists to the
country.
“The risk of a foreign terrorist or criminal
sneaking into our country always exists, hence the need for
immigration officers manning ports to be on a state of alert,”
Libanan said.
The memorandum also prescribes the definition of
the three-step coded-alert warning security system, with green as
the lowest, followed by yellow, and red, the highest code for alert
warning.
When a green alert level is raised, security
measures are maintained at normal level, but on guarded condition.
Inspections of travel documents are done on a regular routine basis.
If the alert level is yellow, security measures
are elevated with [incoming and outgoing] passengers subjected to
stricter examination. Immigration officers make stricter profiling
of incoming and outgoing travelers.
Immigration officers are to be on their highest
state of alert if the red-alert level is raised. Much tighter
security measures are to be implemented in all ports of entry and
exit.
The red-alert will be implemented at times of
emergencies, or if intelligence reports received indicate that
suspected foreign terrorists or criminals will try to slip into the
country.
Just recently, immigration authorities have
deported two Jordanian terror suspects that were allegedly behind a
plot to bomb embassies of western countries in Manila, and
assassinate ranking government officials, including President
Arroyo.
The two, Khalil Al-Ali and Walid Abu Aisheh, who
were arrested by military and police operatives in Manila and Pasay
City last February 27 were deported back to Amman, Jordan on Friday
evening.
|
