PSHS-SMC Graduates on the Bureau of Immigration Watchlist
March 8th, 2007 at 11:50 pm (Human Rights)
A few weeks ago, a graduate of the Philippine Science High School - Southern Mindanao Campus (PSHS - SMC) was barred from leaving the country. The reason? Apparently, all 819 graduates of the PSHS-SMC are on the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) watchlist. Allegedly, this is the school’s way of knowing if the graduates complied with their contract that they should take a science or engineering course. This is a clear violation of the graduates’ human rights.
The rationale of possibly “trapping” or “catching” those who have not complied with their contractual obligation is unacceptable. Why bother all PSHS-SMC graduates with the hassle of procuring a letter from the school just to lift the travel ban? This is a clear case of assuming guilt. Every PSHS-SMC graduate is assumed to be guilty of not complying with their contractual obligation unless they clear themselves.
Article III Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Moreover, Section 2 of RA 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 reiterates that
“The people’s constitutional right to travel is inviolable…. The right to travel may be impaired only when national security, public safety, or public health requires.
Thus, it is only imperative that all 819 graduates of the PSHS-SMC be removed from the BI watchlist.
There is currently an online signature drive regarding the matter, please sign here if you are a PSHS-SMC graduate.
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catet said,
March 11, 2007 at 7:28 pm
i’m not familiar with the technicalities of the law regarding this matter but here is my personal take.
yes, it’s super hassle to go to pisay and BID for the travel clearance but it could never equal the amount our government has spent on our education. this is so small compared to what has already been given to us. I could also not blame the pisay officials and the auditors for resulting into an immigration hold order. Before this was taken into effect, our government has no hold on those students who didn’t follow the contract they signed when entering pisay.
I believe it’s just but right that they take stronger measures to go after those who are in debt to our school and to our government.
two things i’d complain, though:
1. they should have informed everyone before its effectivity
2. the BID should coordinate well so that regional offices could issue clearance instead of getting it from manila. it’s very impractical for those who are taking connecting flights or direct flights from other regional international airports.
Niong said,
March 11, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I totally disagree with this travel ban because it presumes guilt. We have to prove our innocence first? WTF? Ridiculous. Human rights violation ata to.
Nostalgia Manila said,
March 12, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Congratulations for being nominated.
pisay scholar said,
March 17, 2007 at 6:10 am
my response to Catet’s comment above
1. yes, an individual who broke any contractual agreements SHOULD pay.
2. READ your scholarship agreement (contract). its ambiguous.
3. nobody has the RIGHT to ban anyone from traveling without a court order and that includes pisay.
Wood said,
March 17, 2007 at 8:02 am
I am one of the DOST scholar, from Zamboanga City Region IX, under kina Maam Brenda as Director dati ewan ko lang kung sya pa rin, Aware ako dyan sa mahold nga kami sa NBI, dahil don sa nasign naming contract, to exploit and to agetate this idea of the DOST walang violation of Human Rights dito kc yong focus di lang don sa Hold for deportation, may mga condidtions and considerations naman na sumusuporta don sa issue ng hold nga sa NBI, kasi naman kayo nasa human rights, ngayong alam ninyo ang batas, pilit nyo pa ring sirain ang batas at agetate ang issue para maging favorable sa inyong mission……….tarantado pala kayo………bakit di nyo kami ang tanungin, na kami ang galing don……….mga ungas…………..
pisay scholar said,
March 18, 2007 at 7:48 pm
the DOST scholarship given to college students and the scholarship given to PSHS students are to completely different documents.
also, the scholarship agreement signed by pisay scholars vary per year.
pls know the details first before giving your comments.
Reyna Elena said,
March 19, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I think there are two issues here.
1. A Pisay Scholar with some obligations to the government.
2. BID trying to enforce a request from PSH (I could only surmise that there were some arrangement to that effect)
I’m no lawyer so forgive me for not understanding the technicality of the law. Hate me, but I think BID did a pretty good job in enforcing what the Scholar is supposed to do. Granted being put on a watchlist creates a very negative connotation, but I think we should focus on what should PSH and the Scholar has to do such that BID should not be in between?
But then again, given the “talent” of pinoys, I think BID might just be the right agency to enforce such agreements, don’t you think?
You call it Human Rights, what about the rights of the government or we as taxpayers just wanting to be sure that we get “our” fair share?
Reyna Elena said,
March 19, 2007 at 4:28 pm
By the way, I don’t care if you hate me for what I have posted, but I do love your blog (Sip sip! he he he), even the layout itself is very exquisite. O ayan, wag mo na akong batuhin. Pinuri na kita.
Maria said,
March 28, 2007 at 9:06 pm
IMHO, there is a violation of human rights, because THERE IS PRESUMPTION OF GUILT.
AKO said,
April 2, 2007 at 3:26 pm
This should be looked at in a case to case basis. Sure, the government invested in PSH scholars and is right to expect a return. But it should not be done in this way. Banning travel? What in the name of S**T is that? In my case, I wasn’t able to finish my Eng’g couse because I wasn’t financially able to do so… What? I’m being penalized for being poor eh?…. @*^%$)*^
AKO said,
April 2, 2007 at 3:27 pm
COURSE pala yun… still OC
AKOAKO said,
April 12, 2007 at 6:23 am
Sana man lang they informed properly everybody na subject dito. What if nasa labas ka na ng bansa at umuwi ka na walang about this, kawawa ka naman. And what if your’e in a tight sked and wala kang time to process this pagbalik mo ng Pinas eh di mas kawawa ka. Sana man lang they took into consideration ang mga tao na walang time o hindi kaya resources to process this. Mendoukusai…
WTF said,
April 28, 2007 at 1:12 am
The only ones affected by this are the alumni who actually CAN travel. Malas na lang nila. But for those who don’t have any plans at all, or cant afford at the least, how can they check?