Tourist claims bribe solicitation in immigration office

MANILA, Philippines – When James Canning, an Australian traveler, found out he had a missing document, he thought he would never be able to leave the Philippines – until an employee of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) asked for a bribe to speed up the process. 

Canning told his story on a blog posted on the bitcoin website BitEdge on March 10. 

Canning, the founder of BitEdge, was on his way to the United States to attend a web development course. Before this, he was in the Philippines as a tourist. 

When he was in the airport for his flight on March 7, officials stopped him and asked for a copy of his exit clearance from the BI. An immigration officer inside the airport told Canning he needed to get the document from the immigration office outside the airport. 

An exit clearance, or Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), is a document saying the holder “has no pending obligation with the government of the Philippines.” 

Canning claimed he did not know he needed an exit clearance, although his passport had a stamp saying visitors whose total stay in the country is more than 6 months are required to get an ECC. 

“But who reads their passport?” wrote Canning. 

Canning missed his flight and went to the BI’s main office to get the form. The officer in charge of his line was a certain “Officer Mabasa.”

Mabasa took Canning to one of the building’s corridors and told him to place P2,000 between two pages of the form. This would supposedly help Canning get his clearance more quickly. 

Canning then did as he was instructed. He was able to get his clearance and left the immigration office and the Philippines. He added he had no intention of returning to the country. 

After publishing the story, he shared it on his website’s Twitter and tweeted the BOI’s account, @immigrationPH.

@immigrationPH I had to pay a bribe to corrupt Officer Mabasa to leave the Philippines. I will never come back https://t.co/9bAIaehDo4

— Bitedge (@bitedgeco) March 11, 2016

The BI responded through a Facebook message. They told him to send a sworn affidavit to xinfo@immigration.gov.ph. 

BOI policy

In April 2015, the BI reminded foreigners to secure an ECC before leaving the country. 

They reported that 33% of travelers who were barred from departing were foreigners who did not have the document. 

Foreigners required to get the ECC are:

• Holders of Temporary Visitor Visa (tourist visa) who have stayed in the Philippines for 6 months or more
• Holders of expired or downgraded immigrant or non-immigrant visas
• Holders of valid immigrant or non-immigrant visas who are leaving for good
• Philippine-born foreign nationals who will depart from the Philippines for the first time
• Holders of tourist visa with Order to Leave
• Seafarers who have stayed in the Philippines for 30 days or more

Foreign nationals must apply for the ECC at least 72 hours before departure and the forms are valid for one month.

BI spokesperson Elaine Tan, however, warned against fixers, people who illegally prepare documents or make arrangements for a fee. 

The BI may be reached through their hotlines: +632 524-3824, +632 524-3769, +632 465-2400.

Concerns may also be sent to their email: xinfo@immigration.gov.ph, immigPH@gmail.com, binoc_immigration@hotmail.com – Rappler.com