MANILA – The stricter imposition of visa rules in the Philippines is due to various reports of abuses by foreign nationals in the country.
In an interview in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday night, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stressed the need to tighten the visa rules of foreigners entering the country as some of them were able to obtain fake documents.
“Let me explain. Walang stricter rules kahit sa kanino,” Marcos said. “Pare-pareho lang ang rules sa lahat ng ating mga kaibigan na nanggagaling. Ang problema lang dahil lumalabas ang mga report na mayroon nag-aabuso nito. Kaya babantayan namin ito.”
He added: “What we will do is to strictly enforce. Dati hindi natin masyadong tinitingnan, nakita natin maraming nagiging problema. Dahil diyan nakakakuha sila ng mga peke na dokumento, kung ano-ano ginagawa, maraming problemang dala.”
President Marcos further said his administration would improve its regulations on the examinations for visa applicants and for those who convert their tourist visas to student visas.
“’Pantay-pantay lang lahat pero gagandahan namin ang enforcement doon sa examination, doon sa mga nag-a-apply ng visa o doon sa mga nagko-convert sa tourist visa to student visa, at ‘yung mga bumibili ng lupa dahil [nagpapanggap] sila na Pilipino sila,” Marcos said.
President Marcos’ statement came after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said tightening the visa requirements for Chinese tourists would also help the Philippines protect national security, considering the illegal activities involving Chinese nationals.
“While tourism is very important to the Philippine economy, the government also needs to implement stricter measures to protect public interest,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval./PN
