The Philippines is among the countries of destination to many foreign tourists and travellers in this part of the world.
Tansingco noted with deep concern there has been an alarming increase of sex offenders among the undesirable travellers who have also flocked to our country during the same post-pandemic period. Tansingco fears the latest trends of “borderless travel” across the world have been enabling many of these pedophiles and other child-molesters avoid detection.
But unless “red-flagged” or blacklisted by the Interpol, Tansingco explained, the names of these RSOs are not captured in the BI records. Thus, these foreign sex offenders escape detection when they arrived here. The BI though regularly obtains information from its foreign counterparts in the countries that also maintain RSOs, Tansingco assuaged us.
“Everything already is online, from QR code to e-gates, automated processing technology and biometrics,” Tansingco cited. Tansingco revealed the BI has asked Congress to approve its P4-billion proposed budget for next year, which includes P2.5 billion for the modernization project. Under HB 8203, the BI would be able to keep an Immigration Trust Fund of no more than P1.2 billion from its annual income out of collections sourced from fees, fines and penalties. The ITF would fund the BI’s information technology projects, among its modernization plans.
Tansingco worked at BI for nearly a decade – from July 2007 up to January 2017. A lawyer by profession, Tansingco rose through the ranks of BI. He was chief of staff of former Immigration Commissioner and now 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan who is currently the House minority leader. Another former BI chief and is also currently in office in the 19th Congress is Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.