OTON, ILOILO—President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, June 20, ordered personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) not to abuse their authority in questioning foreigners who are visiting the country.
Duterte said the victims of deceiving BI personnel are usually Koreans and Chinese.
“So with the same, Immigration people. Pagka na-istampan na kasi ‘yang admitted to the country for so many days, karamihan kasi ‘yang mga Korean pati Intsik, they are always bugged by Immigration and police and that has to stop,” Duterte said in his speech at the inauguration of the Vista Mall here.
“I’m ordering now that kayong mga Immigration and police should not approach any of the tourist on the guise of question about their stay or valid papers. You are not supposed to… Stop it. Ayaw ko na ‘yang ganun,” he said.
The President also urged foreigners and locals to call 8888 should they feel abused by government personnel.
“Anything that contravenes the policy of government, all you have to do is to put it sa 8888 and I will take notice of that and I will take action,” he said.
In the same speech, Duterte assured businessmen that his administration is ridding the country of corruption.
“Dito sa akin, lahat ng may atraso sa gobyerno nagbayad na. I do not have to mention their names, but all those who owed government 7 billion, ilang presidente na ang dumaan. I gave them three days. Just give him, I said, three days,” the President said.
“You are safe with the Customs, you are safe with the BIR,” he said.
“As we make our country more attractive to businesses and investments, the national government will be doing — we are currently streamlining our processes, providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to targeted sectors, enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium industries and intensifying the fight against illegal drugs, crime and corruption or anything,” he added.
Duterte meanwhile recognized the inauguration of the Vista Mall as “an important milestone in the development of Iloilo City,” as well as a “lasting testament of the Vista Land Group’s vision of a more comfortable life for everybody.”
“Situated in a prime area with establishments and amenities that is currently home to 15,000 people, Vista Mall Iloilo was built to ensure the needs of the Ilonggos are met with the convenience and accessibility of having everything they need in a single location,” Duterte said. ### (PND)
