Pasay City, Philippines – Three Malaysian tourists were barred from entering the Philippines through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-T3) due to their rude and disrespectful conduct, as reported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in a news release on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the incident involved Malaysians Tan Hoong Kiat, 35; Lim Fong Teng, 31; and Khoo Seok Hun, 30. The trio arrived on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong Friday night and were denied entry soon after their arrival. The refusal was based on their response to the immigration officers' request for outward or return tickets, which the tourists failed to present.
The report detailed that the Malaysians used insulting language and refused to calm down, even as immigration supervisors explained the need to show their plane tickets. Consequently, they were placed on the first available flight back to their origin.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco has ordered the inclusion of these individuals in the immigration blacklist, effectively banning them from future entry into the Philippines and classifying them as undesirable aliens. Tansingco emphasized that foreigners should respect and show courtesy to authorities in their host country, noting that their stay is a privilege, not a right.
Under Philippine immigration rules, foreign tourists are required to have return tickets, and failure to present these can result in denial of entry as improperly documented aliens. Additionally, the BI has the authority to deny entry to individuals who are rude or discourteous during processing.
In a related development, the BI verification and compliance division is scrutinizing over 100 companies for submitting false documents in visa applications. Tansingco reported initial findings to the Secretary of Justice and noted ongoing efforts to cancel visas linked to fraudulent companies. This action aligns with the Department of Justice's efforts to end abuses in the visa issuance system and reorganize visa issuance procedures for foreign nationals.
The investigation follows raids that exposed scam hubs and prostitution dens masquerading as legitimate businesses. Foreign nationals found to be using services from these fake companies face deportation, entry bans, and blacklisting. Liaison officers who submit fraudulent applications risk having their accreditations revoked.