Remulla alarmed by visa issuance system

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla aired his concerns over the country's visa issuance system due to signs of vulnerability.

Remulla said this was due to recent increase in incidents where foreigners have been denied entry into the country.

The DoJ chief has embarked on an investigation, unearthing illegal pathways crafted by lawyers and travel agencies to sneak people into the country, mostly Chinese nationals.

The narrative took a darker turn as fake companies surfaced, according to him, exploiting loopholes in the system.

These deceptive entities, guided by self-interest, cared little for the territorial boundaries and national security concerns, he continued.

Remulla want a shift in responsibility, noting the Department of Foreign Affairs was deemed inadequate for handling the web of visa applications, particularly from China.

The Justice Secretary wants to entrust the task to a third-party issuer, like VFS, capable of scrutinizing submissions and validating data provided by visitors with efficiency.

Remulla proposes to safeguard the nation against the insidious threats posed by those exploiting the system.