MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday that the Philippines never deported babies, contrary to reports surfacing online.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued this statement following reports that a newborn was part of the 33 foreign nationals who were deported last week.
“We have waived other requirements to allow the smooth travel of the child, who left together with the parents,” Tansingco said.
According to the report, the baby is the child of a female worker of Smart Web Technology. The company was raided late last year by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PAOCC).
Tansingco said that they have actually assisted the “easy departure” of the child after the parents have been deported adding that the BI also makes sure that minors who may have “fallen into distress” while in the country are protected.
The report came after the agency intercepted three Vietnamese minors who were found to have presented stolen German passports.
The agency said two were immediately boarded on the next flight back to their country of origin, while the other one, who was intercepted attempting to depart for Canada, was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for assistance before his flight back to Vietnam last August 3.
