September 26, 2013

BI OPERATIONS ORDER NO. SBM-2013-010

GUIDELINES IN DEALING WITH QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS AND IDENTITY

To prescribe standard operational procedures in dealing with questionable identity and travel documents and the disposition thereof by concerned Bureau of Immigration personnel, the following guidelines shall be strictly observed:

I. On Arrival

A. Upon receipt of a perceived questioned document (QD), the Immigration Officer (IO) shall forthwith refer the arriving passenger, together with the QD, to the Duty Immigration Supervisor (DIS).

1. For Philippine nationals

a. The DIS shall allow entry of the passenger, however, he/she shall take custody of the QD and issue a Temporary Receipt therefor to the passenger. IHTaCE

b. The DIS shall then endorse the QD to the Anti-Fraud Section (AFS) for a quick examination.

c. If the QD is found to be genuine, the same shall be returned to the passenger through the DIS within thirty (30) minutes from endorsement. Otherwise, the AFS shall conduct a cursory examination thereon and endorse the same, together with the Cursory Document Examination Report (CDER), within twenty-four (24) hours therefrom, to the Office of the Commissioner for the turn-over to the Issuing Agency.

2. For foreign nationals

a. The IO, duly noted by the DIS, shall issue a Temporary Receipt to the passenger for the QD and endorse the same to the AFS for "quick" examination. The DIS shall likewise conduct further verification on the passenger.

b. If the QD is found to be genuine, the same shall be returned to the passenger through the DIS within thirty (30) minutes from endorsement and he shall be allowed entry. Otherwise, the DIS shall, within the same day of the passenger's arrival, prepare the necessary documents for the exclusion and blacklisting of the passenger. AcSIDE

B. If he arriving passenger is of questioned identity (QI), the IO shall refer such passenger to the Travel Control Enforcement Unit (TCEU) Officer for the conduct of further verification and investigation of his/her identity. If the passenger is confirmed to be an impostor, the TCEU Officer shall inform the IO and DIS of his/her finding and, with the same day of the passenger's arrival, prepare the necessary documents for the passenger's exclusion and blacklisting, otherwise, he/she shall be allowed entry.

II. On Departure

A. Upon receipt of a perceived questioned document (QD), the IO shall forthwith refer the departing passenger, together with the QD, to the DIS.

1. For Philippine nationals

a. The DIS shall then endorse the QD to the Anti-Fraud Section (AFS) for "quick" examination.

b. If the QD is found to be genuine, the same shall be returned to the passenger through the DIS within thirty (30) minutes from endorsement and he/she shall be allowed to depart. Otherwise, the AFS shall conduct a cursory examination on the QD. DTEcSa

c. If upon cursory examination the QD is found to be genuine, the same shall immediately be returned to passenger and he/she shall be allowed to depart. Otherwise, the AFS shall endorse the QD, together with the CDER, within twenty-four (24) hours therefrom, to the Office of the Commissioner for proper turn-over to the Issuing Agency, and the passenger shall not be allowed to depart.

2. For foreign nationals

a. If the QD is an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC), BI Official Receipt, Visa or other similar immigration documents, the DIS shall then and there verify the payments therefor with the Centralized Query Support System (CQSS). If the payments are confirmed, the DIS shall allow the departure of the passenger, otherwise the DIS shall make further verification with the issuing office and endorse the QD to the AFS for "quick" examination. If the verification is positive and the QD is found to be genuine, the DIS shall allow the passenger's departure; otherwise the DIS shall, within the same day of the passenger's departure, prepare the necessary documents for the turn-over of the passenger and the QD to the Intelligence Division for proper disposition. CcaASE

b. For all other forms of QD, the DIS shall refer the same to the AFS for "quick" examination. If the QD is found to be genuine, the same shall be returned to the passenger through the DIS and necessary documents for the turn-over of the passenger to the Intelligence Division for proper disposition while the AFS shall turn-over the fraudulent documents to the Office of the Commissioner for proper turn-over to the Issuing Agency.

B. If the departing passenger to the TCEU Officer for the conduct of further verification and investigation of his/her identity. If the passenger's identity is confirmed as true, the TCEU Officer shall allow his/her departure, otherwise, the TCEU Officer shall inform the IO and DIS of his finding and, shall forthwith prepare the necessary documents for the offloading and turn-over of the passenger to the Intelligence Division for proper disposition.

In all of the above cases, the disposition by the DIS and TCEU Officer shall be supported with an Incident Report to be submitted to the Office of the Commissioner within twenty-four (24) hours therefrom.

The AFS shall submit a Monthly Report of all referrals of and action taken on QDs to the Office of the Commissioner. CAIHaE

This Order shall take effect immediately.

(SGD.) SIEGFRED B. MISONOfficer-in-ChargeBureau of Immigration