Senator Francis Escudero on Monday assured the Bureau of Immigration employees that their salaries and benefits will not be utilized to reimburse offloaded travelers who missed their flights due to the lengthy immigration assessment process. 

The upper chamber earlier approved the 2024 General Appropriations Bill provision, allowing the BI to pay damages to the thousands of outbound passengers who missed their flights due to their lengthy interviews in the airports. 

In his social media post over the X (formerly Twitter), Escudero noted, "there is nowhere in the 2024 GAB that says that the funds to be used to repay the affected passengers will be coming from the budget for employees' salary and augmentation allowances."

He said the reimbursement fund will be sourced out from the excess income of the BI "that is being returned annually to the National Treasury."

"Any diminution from the salary and augmentation of BI personnel is illegal and unauthorized. The money to refund offloaded passengers will not come from/nor will it be deducted from BI personnel," he added. 

Escudero vowed he would closely look into the matter "to ensure that the intent and mandate of Congress regarding this is followed to the letter."

He explained the proposed payment will not need additional budgetary requirements since the money will be charged against the BI's earnings which is only 10 percent excess from the bureau's collections.

The overtime pay and other benefits of the immigration officers "will remain intact and untouched," he added.

"Ika nga, imbes na bumalik sa Treasury, eh 'di ibigay na lang natin sa mga na-offload ng walang sapat na basehan," said Escudero. 

The latest records from the BI showed that a total of 32,404 Filipino passengers were not allowed to proceed with their flights last year after going through immigration processes.

Of the total number of offloaded passengers, BI said 472 were found to be victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment.

Meanwhile, Escudero remains hopeful that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not veto the provision in the GAB. 

Citing Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri's earlier pronouncement, Escudero said Marcos is set to sign into law the 2024 GAB on 20 December 20.