Bureau of Immigration to deploy body cameras at Philippine airports

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced plans to equip all airport immigration officers with body-worn cameras by the end of October 2026. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated the move aims to enhance accountability, transparency, and monitoring to deter personnel from abusing their positions.

The decision follows recent human trafficking incidents at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1. In mid-September, the BI intercepted several Filipino passengers suspected of being victims of illegal recruitment. One passenger reported being recruited via social media for security work in Russia, while another claimed he was recruited for military service in Russia with promises of high salaries and citizenship.

In response to a separate trafficking incident on September 12, the BI has already taken administrative actions, including the termination of a job order worker and the removal of two officers from their posts. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also conducting a probe into these matters in coordination with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).