Complaint on offloading of passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport

by Mohammad Ismail
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mohammad Ismail, a retired senior police officer holding the last position as Deputy Director 11 of Internal Security and Public Order with the Royal Malaysia Police, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Currently I am the chairman of my own security company namely Microtech Security.

I have a filipino family friend by the name of Ruby Mendoza Lopera, living at Taguig City, Philippines 1631, now having and running her own store business. She intended to visit Malaysia from 8th May 2013 to 12th May 2013 as a tourist. She had two way Phil Air Express tickets, original room reservation voucher for the duration of her visit and also financial capacity of 15000 pesos for her visiting daily expenses. However, she was offloaded after being interviewed by the Agents and Immigration Officer upon check-in. According to Ruby, she was offloaded for reason that she could not satisfy the paper requirements to travel as a tourist. She was advised to obtain more additional proof such as her business permit, financial capacity, and etc.

On the next intended visit, she was able to fulfill all the requirements to travel and that on the 24th May 2013 with rescheduled 2-way Phil Air Express tickets, original room reservation voucher and her bank account she went to Manila Airport to visit Malaysia from 24th to 29th May 2013 . She checked-in at Terminal 2 but was offloaded again despite the fact that she had fulfilled all the requirements as advised by the Agents and Immigration Officer at the first offloading. I am really so perturbed and surprised as to why she was disallowed to travel as she had already spent so much money for her preparation to travel. I herewith attached copies of Ruby's Passport, business permit, 2 way air tickets, room reservation voucher and requirement slip of offloading issued by the Immigration Officer for your perusal and reference .

Allow me to express my views on this issue. Thw Immigration Bureau cannot rigidly enforce the guidelines to any Tom, Dick and Harry who wish to travel abroad and treat them as criminals. There may be bona-fide travelers who like to travel and see the world. Just like my friend Ruby, she had fulfilled all the necessary requirements as stipulated in the guidelines on the departure formalities for international bound passengers and yet she was offloaded twice at the Manila Airport. Bear with me and you would agree that her air ticket expenses and payment for confirmed room reservation from her long hard earned saving had gone to a waste when she was offloaded. Why could you not have a proper system of interviewing passengers at least a week before they intend to travel instead of interviewing them upon check-in on the travelling day. AS you are fully aware, this would cause a lot of conveniences to the airlines check-in counter, Immigration and more so to the departing passengers. With this recommended procedure, the passengers who intended to visit abroad would not have to waste their money to buy air tickets until you could confirm and approve their travel. There was no justice as to why bona-fide passengers were denied of their right to travel and this was a clear-cut abuse and oppression of citizens' constitutional and human rights. If only when they were demanded to pay bribes to the Immigration Officers at the airport, they would be allowed to pass through the immigration check and board the plane. Where is the spirit, regional co-operation and agreement of ASEAN if citizens of member countries could not enjoy the privilege of one month free gratis visa to visit ASEAN countries for the purpose of tourism. If this is the rule of the Philippines Government to discourage her own citizens to travel abroad particularly to ASEAN countries I am afraid the spirit, concept and objectives of ASEAN will be defeated and serve no purpose at all.

I would also like to mention to you that a few of my friends who intended to visit me in the past were offloaded by the Immigration Officer even though they had my letters of invitation issued by the Philippines Embassy in Malaysia on application and payment. It would appear that the Immigration Officers did not seem to honour and trust the legal document issued by their own Government.
On behalf of her , I beg to appeal to your good office and kind consideration that with the genuine reasons above i hope that she could be allowed to travel and visit Malaysia as a tourist without any hassle again at the airport. I will assure you and trust me that she will abide by the rules and regulations of the the Immigration law of both countries when she is travelling. I would be much appreciated and grateful if you could kindly act upon and give me the feedback on my complaint, please.

Thank you.

Regards,


Mohammad Ismail
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Mobile No : +60123092112
Email Address : [email protected]