Monitoring illegal working aliens not our job: Dole (Sun.Star, Sunday, October 21, 2007)

Monitoring illegal working aliens not our job: Dole

By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said Friday the job of monitoring the stay of foreign nationals and their physical activities is not entirely their responsibility.

This was the stern statement of Dole Director Nathaniel Lacambra, after mounting concern aired by groups and government officials in the "unconfirmed" reports of foreign nationals especially Koreans who have been working in the areas of Clark and Angeles City.

The City Government and the City Council of Angeles spearheaded by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting called on concerned government units to look on the activities of the foreign nationals in the said areas.

"The task of monitoring illegal aliens and foreign nationals is the task of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Ang problema kasi pag may foreign national na nahuhuli and Dole agad ang iniisip nilang may kasalanan hindi ganun kasimple yun," Lacambra said. "Ang task nang pagmonitor nang mga foreign nationals nasa BI kasi sa kanila dumadaan ang mga yan at sila rin ang may records," he added.

The present regulations on foreign nationals who wish to work in the Philippines is done through an application for special working permit (Special Alien Employment Permit) filed at the Dole. The Immigration department would then facilitate the change in status of the foreign national's visa.

"Kapag nag apply for special working permit pinapalabas naming yun sa

dyaryo. Kapg walang nagcontest na tao na fit naman para sa posisyon na pinapasukan ng dayuhan pwede na silang magpapalit ng status sa BI," Lacambra said, adding that the department's task is to monitor labor

concerns.

But the director was quick to add that they apprehend foreign nationals they see working in various establishments. "Kapag may nakikita kaming foreign national sa mga business establishments sinisita naming kung walng permit nirereport naming sa Bureau of Immigration for proper action," Lacambra added.

Recently the department with the NBI and the Bureau of Immigration had

facilitated the arrest of 51 Chinese nationals working inside Clark. These were found lacking the required working permits. Each was penalized with close to P50,000 for working without necessary documents plus other fines ranging from P7,000 to P10,000.

The City Government of Angeles City had asked the Bureau of Immigration and the NBI to look on the status of foreign nationals in Angeles City.

Records reveal that there are around 7,000 Koreans in Angeles City and Mabalacat. How many of these are tourists, students or with special working visas is still uncertain as agencies do not have definite monitoring records of foreign nationals.