The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred at least 220 foreigners from entering the country in March this year, with a majority of the excluded being Vietnamese followed by Chinese nationals.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the increase in entry denials stemmed from the increase in Vietnamese nationals found to be working in illegal online gaming hubs.
Of the 220 excluded, more than 150 were Vietnamese, 30 were Chinese, and 14 were Indonesians. The foreigners were denied entry in the same month after being found to be likely in violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
Tansingco emphasized the BI’s actions were based on meticulous scrutiny of travel patterns and activities of individuals.
“We leverage available data on past arrests and interceptions to identify individuals exhibiting similar travel behaviors,” explained Tansingco.
As a consequence of their exclusion, said foreigners are included in the BI’s blacklist, effectively barring any future attempts at entry to the country.
Meanwhile, BI operatives arrested an American national wanted in his home country for fraud.
The fugitive, identified as Paul David Cardwell, 57, attempted to extend his temporary visitors’ visa using the BI’s online services last March 27.
BI tourist visa section chief Raymond Remigio said that Cardwell’s records prompted secondary checks after being prompted by the system that the subject is a convicted US felon.