BI LIFTS BAN ON BLACKLISTED FOREIGN JOURNALISTS The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has lifted the blacklist order dated June 6, 2014 issued against nine foreign journalists upon the recommendation of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). Upon evaluation of the NICA letter dated November 21, 2014 and received by the BI yesterday (November 24), the BI has deemed it proper to lift the blacklist order against the foreign nationals, said Atty. Elaine Tan, BI spokesperson. The NICA cited that the blacklist order should be lifted considering that no untoward incident transpired during the Presidents visit to China for the 26th APEC Summit. Sometime in June this year, the foreign nationals were included in the blacklist upon recommendation of NICA, the same agency that requested for blacklisting of the subjects. Following normal protocol, the BI heavily relied on the advice of the NICA to lift the blacklist as NICA is presumed to be in a better position to know the facts surrounding the initial finding of undesirability and subsequent reversal of such finding, Tan explained. In view of the blacklist lifting, the foreign nationals listed in the blacklist order dated June 6, 2014 may now enter the Philippines as tourists, subject to regular immigration inspection.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 02:34:45 +0000