(File photo)
MANILA – More than 2,700 foreign nationals have been denied entry into the country during the first 10 months of 2023, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Tuesday.
In a statement, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said a total of 2,778 foreigners who are "undesirable" and improperly documented were barred by immigration officers from entering the country from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 this year.
The figure mainly consists of Chinese nationals (696), Vietnamese (414), Indonesians (214), Americans (204), and Indians (138).
The majority of these foreigners attempted to enter via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he added.
Tansingco noted that they have strengthened port monitoring after an uptick in arriving foreign nationals post-pandemic.
“As the world opens, the number of travelers has increased. And with this also comes the increase of illegal aliens attempting to enter the country,” he added.
Last year, the BI excluded a total of 2,768 foreigners for various reasons, 52 percent of whom were likely to become a public nuisance, while 20 nuisances were excluded for being improperly documented. (PNA)
