Backdoor exits, foreign arrests renew calls to modernize PH border security

Recent cases involving the illegal departure of Filipino workers and the arrest of foreign nationals have renewed calls to modernize the country’s border security system, with lawmakers and immigration officials warning that the Philippines can no longer rely on an 85-year-old immigration framework to address modern security threats.

On June 16, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) facilitated the repatriation of 11 Filipinos from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, after they left the country through illegal “backdoor” routes in search of work.

According to the BI, six of the repatriates bypassed legal departure procedures before taking construction, mechanical, and maritime jobs abroad. Most reportedly received no salary during their employment.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the incident highlights the dangers of leaving the country through unauthorized routes, noting that illegal recruiters continue to lure Filipinos with false promises of overseas jobs while encouraging them to evade legal travel requirements.

Just 10 days later, on June 26, BI operatives arrested 10 foreign nationals in General Luna, Surigao del Norte, for alleged violations of Philippine immigration laws. Those arrested included four Israelis, two Chinese nationals, one Lithuanian, one Australian, one Moroccan, and one Nigerian. Authorities said the violations included overstaying and engaging in gainful employment without the necessary permits.

The two incidents have intensified calls in Congress to strengthen the country’s border management system, which is still primarily governed by the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, author of Senate Bill No. 1867, said the country’s immigration laws must be updated to address present-day challenges.

“Hindi na sapat ang isang pre-war na balangkas para sa mga hamon ng makabagong panahon,” Pangilinan said.

Meanwhile, Martin Romualdez has backed the proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Bill, saying it would improve both travel efficiency and national security.

Senator Raffy Tulfo also called for stronger data management and tighter monitoring of the country’s maritime borders, warning that security gaps in seaports could be exploited for illegal entry and smuggling.

To support modernization efforts, the BI is reviewing the proposed Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services (CAISS) project, a P10.74-billion public-private partnership that aims to upgrade immigration systems across the country’s 11 operational international airports.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the proposal offers an integrated border management system that combines frontline operations, biometric data collection, and artificial intelligence to identify high-risk travelers before they enter or leave the Philippines.

The proposed system includes automated border control using facial recognition, biometric kiosks, advanced passenger information systems, electronic gates, and deception detection technology.

The project has completed the Swiss challenge process without receiving competing proposals and will follow a user-pay financing model, under which international travelers may pay a proposed $4 (around P240) fee for every entry or departure.

The BI said the arrangement would allow the government to modernize immigration infrastructure without direct taxpayer funding. The proposal also includes a mandatory technology refresh every four years to ensure the system remains up to date.

The collection of user fees is authorized under Section 13 of Republic Act No. 11966, which allows regulatory agencies to approve and oversee tolls, fees, and other charges for public-private partnership projects.

Viado said modernizing the country’s border management system is essential to strengthening the government’s fight against human trafficking, transnational crime, terrorism, and other emerging security threats.

He added that unauthorized departures and illegal entries continue to pose serious risks to national security, underscoring the need for a more modern and technology-driven immigration system.