A Bureau of Immigration officer in the Philippines has been relieved of duty and reassigned to a back office after he allegedly subjected a Filipina traveler to an interview that left her stranded and unable to board her flight. The incident, which went viral on TikTok, reportedly involved the officer asking irrelevant questions, such as whether the traveler’s parents were still together and whether she had her school yearbook with her. BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the agency is investigating the incident, and the officer could face administrative sanctions if found guilty. Sandoval also emphasized that secondary inspections are necessary in the immigration process to prevent human trafficking and illegal recruitment but acknowledged that there may have been a lapse in explaining the reasons behind the questions asked during the interview. She clarified that yearbooks and diplomas are not required for travelers departing the country.
