Offloading

Benito Vacio


A Costly Trip
Have you ever been offloaded in the Philippines in your flight to Thailand? Was the offloading legitimate? How do we minimize off loading?
In my 4th trip to Thailand last May 1st 2013, I was offloaded at Clark International Airport in the Philippines. I passed through this airport because of an attractive promotion offered by a certain airline. I didn’t know that I would encounter a more costly trip instead. , I happened to watch a public service TV program. A certain lady was complaining on TV about her offloading experience at Clark International Airport. The lady said the immigration officer did not let her pass through because the immigration officer did not believe that her sponsor, a cousin of hers, was in Thailand. Then the immigration officer put the word to her mouth that she would work in Thailand. The lady insisted she would not but when the officer asked for her credentials, the officer noticed her documentswere not authenticated by Malacanang (without red ribbons). So, she was held. What about her two-way ticket? It was ridiculous. She would only visit her cousin and yet she was required to have her credentials authenticated.
Her experience happened to me. When I checked in 3 hours before departure, I showed my ticket, passport and exit clearance to the lady officer. She told me to validate my exit clearance from the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) section. Two officers attended to me – asked my exit clearance, my passport, work contract, and work permit. They asked why I stayed in the country for more than 5 days. I told them I had my cataract surgery. They asked for medical certificate or doctor’s prescription, but I had nothing to show. I didn’t bring what they asked for because those things are not usually asked in passing through immigration. In my knowledge, most of the things asked are - why are you going to Thailand, what’s your job, where will you stay in Thailand, are you going to work there, how much money do you have , do you have an invitation and so forth, but not the medical certificate. Then they doubted the authenticity of my exit clearance just to find fault. They asked me why I got it from SM Manila (Shoe Mart), a mall in Manila and not at the main office of the POEA. I told them there was a big billboard before leaving immigration at the MIA saying ….for OFW’s convenience they can get their exit clearance at the airport, POA Head Office, and SM Manila. Then one guy turned his lap top on. He even told me to wait a little while. It took him eternity to wait for Wi-Fi but no Wi-Fi came. Imagine an international airport without a working Wi-Fi. Then they told me they would call up my employer. I told them the phone number is in the contract. He was dialing his cell phone looking at the topmost portion of the contract then said, there’s no answer. I soon found out when I got the contract back there was no number on top portion of the contract but it was written below the contract so he was only pretending. I pleaded for them to let me pass through because I had guests that day in Thailand, but no avail.

They advised me to go the POEA outside the airport. I did but the POEA office was closed for it was Labor Day. Because of that I gave up and returned to Manila. Then I proceeded to the Manila International Airport and got a new ticket. At the airport, it was not difficult for me to have my exit clearance validated for my exit clearance was valid up to 2015. The officer was even surprised why I was offloaded in Clark. I told him the reason so he gave me a form stating why I stayed long in the Philippines. Overwhelmed by the help of this officer, I dropped a note in the suggestion box to commend him for being so helpful and kind to all who approached him. When I got my ticket I was able to get my exit clearance for only 100 pesos as an OFW.
I wonder why Clark International Airport and Manila International Airport have different policies! I was allowed in MIA Terminal 3 but denied in Clark airport. I couldn’t help asking myself, “Do immigration officers who offload legitimate passengers get a cut from the airline?” I met one ticketing Filipino of an airline here in Thailand and asked about “offloading business “She nodded and said that in her knowledge, there are a lot of cases like this which she termed “under the table” negotiations but nothing has been done about it. I researched in the internet. There were a lot of offloading complaints.
Some friends shared their offloading experiences. The first one was a lady who was to take care of a teacher’s son. She was offloaded because the immigration officer believed that the teacher could not give a work permit for her relative. Another was a teacher who planned to go to Thailand to visit a friend was not allowed to go because they insisted on the immigration’s suspicion that she would work in Thailand. Recently, one colleague mentioned that her “nanny” was offloaded because the nanny was under 18.

So how do we avoid being offloaded? I have asked those who were victims and some friends and they said:
1. Bring a copy of all your legal documents when travelling to another country. Include medical certificates if necessary so that when your travel is in question you have evidences to show the immigration officer.
2. If you want to travel on a public holiday and you’re near Terminal 3 in Manila, depart there because they have offices for your travel needs.
3. Review your notes on Pre-departure Orientation Seminar prior to departure if you are an OFW.
4. If you are touring Thailand, show that you are with light baggage, sufficient show money, and let the officer have the impression that you are not going to work there.
5. Be ready with your Visa Cards, ATM cards or bank books in case the immigration officer is in doubt of your show money.
6. Ask advice from friends/ travel agents on how to answer questions of immigration officers.
7. Have your authenticated credentials authenticated by Malacanang (with red ribbons).
8. When sponsored, have the letter of sponsorship plus the sponsor’s Xerox copies of his/her passport,, work permit, contract, etc. (with translation if possible).
9. Ready your old passport to show that you travelled to places already. Frequent travelers are given priority.

I don’t know why Filipino immigration officers are so strict in allowing their legitimate countrymen (those who have the basic documents) to go out of the country. Don’t our countrymen have the right to travel? Why is strict regulations imposed to legally employed Filipinos in other countries who merely took their vacation? Why do they have to be inconsiderate at the expense of our countrymen who borrow or even sell their properties just to be able to go abroad? It is okay if the traveler is really questionable. For those who are rightful to go, just like me, who had reentry permit from Thailand, had my contract and work permit, return ticket and exit clearance, they should have let me go without spending bigger expenses especially that I had my cataract operation that cost me more than 40,000 pesos already. They should have also given me consideration as a senior citizen as a sign of respect.
Well, I was able to sort out things and return to Thailand within 24 hours. What if I did not have the resources? I guess it’s high time for the Philippine government to look into the offloading problems of so many Filipinos especially those with tickets bought through promotions. The poor Filipino is jeopardized here. Their hard earned money is put to waste even if it is not necessary.