(6/19/2011)
The Immigration Office at the Ngurah Rai International Airport has responded publicly to reports in the local and international media alleging that two Philippine women were profiled and strip-searched by their officers.
Addressing reports in Nusa Bali and the Asia News Network, the head of the airport immigration office, Rai Firdaus Amir, issued a statement clarifying that immigration is not empowered to inspect passengers’ belongings other than their travel documents. The right to inspect personal belongings belongs solely to the Customs and Excise department.
Amir also questioned the source quoted in the Nusa Bali report that a certain “Felix,” supposedly working at the immigration service, claiming no such individual was employed by the immigration department.
In response, Nusa Bali said their report was based on a report carried by the Asia News Network which cited the immigration officers as those blamed by the two Philippine women for conducting the strip search.
Nusa Bali also corrected their original report, saying the it was, in fact, Yohanes Felix, of the Ngurah Rai Custom’s office who confirmed that the search of the women conformed to standard operating procedures for handling passengers suspected of carrying contraband.
Related Article
[Profiling Philippinos]
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