BI URGED TO TIGHTEN CROSS-BORDER COORDINATION VS ILLICIT TRADERS

SENATOR Win Gatchalian urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI)to ramp up international cooperation to track and apprehend criminals who exploit backdoor exits, including those trafficking illicit tobacco and vape products.

According to Gatchalian, there have been increasing reports of illicit cigarettes being smuggled into the country. He had earlier filed a resolution seeking to probe this. 

“In our experience with Guo Hua Ping a.k.a. Alice Guo, coordination with the international community is very important. Immigration offices in other countries are a vital source of information,” said Gatchalian at a recent Senate hearing. 

Alice Guo, a Chinese national and former Tarlac mayor, was sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking tied to POGO operations. After fleeing, she was arrested by Interpol and returned to the Philippines through coordination with Indonesian authorities.

Gatchalian also said that attorney Harry Roque, former Congressman Arnulfo Teves, and Atong Ang are believed to have evaded arrest by sneaking out through backdoor exits.

“The world now is literally borderless. Everyone na may high profile personality, may pera ay pwedeng magbayad para makalusot sa backdoor. The other method that we can do is to increase our coordination and information sharing,” he said.