NEWSFLASH

Manila, Aug. 20. 2000 - Airport Immigration authorities were ordered yesterday to strictly screen Filipinos traveling to Spain in response to the move of the Spanish government to restrict the entry of foreigners with incomplete travel papers.

Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez issued the order to Immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and five other international airports upon recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Rodriguez warned travelers to Spain that they could be arrested and deported if they work there without the proper documentation in view of ongoing initiatives of the Spanish government to amend the country’s immigration law and impose stiffer penalties on undocumented aliens.

Spanish immigration authorities have become stricter in admitting foreigners since they started implementing a legalization program for some 179,000 illegal foreign migrants who were required to apply for residence and work permits.

The DFA, through migrant workers affairs chief Bayani Mangibin, urged the Bureau of Immigration to implement “comprehensive controls” in screening Filipinos bound for Spain as tourists but intend to seek employment there in the future.

Mangibin asked Rodriguez to likewise screen Filipinos departing for North Africa which is allegedly being used as a “backdoor” and transit point by those aspiring to get to Spain, Italy and other European destinations.

The Philippine Embassy in Madrid reported that Filipinos and Chinese comprised the majority of Asian immigrants in Spain.

The embassy said that of the 33,600 immigrants whose applications for legalization were processed, some 8,000 were denied regularization and ordered to return to their home countries.