The Bureau of Immigration said Sunday that it has shuffled more than 300 of its officers stationed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as part of the agency's efforts to curb corruption in its ranks.

 

BI acting ports operations chief Carlos Capulong said Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente approved his recommendation to implement the rotation scheme at the NAIA on October 3.

 

The rotation scheme covers 314 BI officers, including those assigned at NAIA's immigration counters. Terminal assignments of 77 immigration supervisors at the premiere airport will also be shuffled, BI said.

 

"This will be the last rotation of our NAIA personnel this year as the next reshuffle will be implemented during the first quarter of 2022," Capulong said.

 

The immigration bureau in 2020 was embroiled in the "pastillas"  scheme controversy where port officers allegedly receive rolled up money to ensure seamless entry of Chinese nationals in the country.

 

Yet to be included in this are the 99 newly-hired immigration personnel that are currently undergoing on-the-job training at the airport. Once they finish their training,  they will also be deployed to different ports across the country, the BI said.

 

Morente earlier said the bureau is fast tracking the recruitment of 200 new BI officers for next year. 

 

The BI chief also stressed the need to field more immigration officers after the Department of Transportation said it is looking to raising the daily cap on passenger arrivals and reopen airports to international travel.