Photo from Xian Gaza Facebook page
MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) dismissed a recent social media post by cash-strapped businessman Xian Gaza on his supposed evasion of Philippine authorities, as a publicity hoax.
"Booking numerous flights will not help evade police. Everything is recorded in our systems. With one click you'll know which flight a person really took," Bureau of Immigration spokesperson, Dana Sandoval, said in a statement Monday.
"Since he had no derogatory record when he left, he was cleared for departure. It was quite uneventful and ordinary, really, No Hollywood-level storyline. Just regular immigration clearance. Stunts like this using the Bureau to gain fame and stay relevant is a security risk. He is making a mockery of our airport procedures for attention," Sandoval added.
The BI spokesperson pointed out that once a person has a hit for an existing hold departure order or warrant of arrest, he/she will be immediately be barred from flying out.
"This story is preposterous similar to other claims he made in the past. If you know regular airport procedures, his story sounds silly," she noted.
Sandoval said their legal department is now “studying possible actions against him”.
The BI official noted that the Facebook post which went viral may pose risk on the security in the airport particularly the BI inspections.
“He is encouraging other people to circumvent our immigration inspection through these schemes,” she added.
She likewise clarified that the alleged conversation between Gaza and an immigration officer did not happen.
“The story is preposterous, similar to other claims he made in the past. If you know regular airport procedures, his story sounds silly. Ang daming (There are lot of) loopholes,” she added.
Department of Justice spokesperson, Undersecretary Markk Perete, meanwhile, said they are verifying the post.
"We are verifying his claims and have asked the BI to investigate," Perete said in statament over the weekend.
In a Facebook post, Gaza described how he was supposedly able to leave the country despite having "three pending arrest warrants" and after being sentenced to five years in prison on September 30 last year.
The post has garnered almost 8,000 comments and more than 22,000 shares.
Gaza himself is no newcomer to high-profile publicity stunts. Two years ago, he made headlines when he asked out actress Erich Gonzales for coffee using a billboard advertisement in Manila. (with reports from Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
