MANILA: Some 32 Indonesians allegedly trying to pass themselves off as Filipinos were prevented by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) from entering the country.
In a statement issued yesterday, Immigration commissioner Ricardo David said the 32 Indonesians had tried to enter the country through Tawi-Tawi in an effort to avail of the quota for Filipino Muslims to attend this year’s Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
David said they discovered the scheme after learning the Indonesians were unable to make the quota in their own country for the pilgrimage to Makkah. David believes a syndicate was behind the scheme to enable foreigners to fill up the quota for Filipino Muslims.
The racket was exposed after immigration personnel in Tawi-Tawi prevented the 32 Indonesians from entering the country via the Bongao port on board the M/V Mid-East.
The Indonesians were ordered back by immigration officers who interviewed them on the purpose of their travel to the Philippines. They spoke neither Filipino nor the local dialect Sinama, officials said.
The Philippine star
