Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have barred the entry of a US national for rude conduct and after writing profanity and false information in the eTravel system.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the American as Anthony Joseph Laurence, 34, male, who arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 last Tuesday, 7 November, via an Air Asia flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

Tansingco said that the passenger initially showed disdain toward the primary inspector after he was reminded to fill out the eTravel form online.

According to BI-NAIA officials, Laurence reportedly tossed his passport and his mobile phone angrily to the immigration officer, who assessed him upon returning to the immigration counter.

BI-NAIA officials said that after verifying in their system, the officer discovered that the passenger keyed in a made-up address in the Philippines, did not include his full name, and wrote profane words in his form.

To improve and expedite immigration procedures at international ports, the eTravel system was created to replace paper-based arrival and departure cards. It must be completed at least 72 hours before arrival.

Tansingco expressed his dismay towards the incident, issuing a stern warning to uphold the integrity of the eTravel system.

The BI chief also said such behavior is not only disrespectful but also undermines the efficiency of the system. The agency is committed to ensuring a seamless experience for the traveling public. It expects all individuals to conduct themselves with respect and adhere to the established procedures. Any violation of these procedures will be dealt with firmly, he added.

Tansingco then explained that while immigration officers are advised to exercise maximum tolerance, the foreign national has overstepped his boundaries.

He added that the American was immediately excluded and sent back to his port of origin, and the bureau placed his name on the BI blacklist, permanently banning him from re-entering the country.

The bureau recorded a total of 44 newly arriving foreign nationals, who showed disrespectful attitudes to Philippine authorities and have been blacklisted in the country.