Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) barred from entering the country three Malaysian nationals who claimed to be members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious group headed by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the three passengers were boarded back to a flight to Malaysia last August 28.
The trio reportedly arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1, night of August 27 via a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Jessica Lynn Henry, Mimielianna Annie Anak Leesoi, and Andrijosebaul Anak Garra, all in their mid-20s, reportedly arrived with a group of Filipinos presenting themselves KOJC members who later “abandoned” them after they were referred for further immigration inspection.
According to Tansingco, the Malaysians were denied entry for being likely to become a public charge, after they were flagged for seemingly suspicious intent in the country.
“Our immigration officers discovered their intent to participate in anti-government demonstrations being staged by KOJC members who are protesting the ongoing manhunt for Pastor Quiboloy,” Tansingco said.
He stressed that “foreigners have no business interfering in the country’s internal political affairs, thus aliens who join these protest actions can be expelled for violating our immigration laws and for being undesirable aliens.”
In their incident report, the BI supervisors who interviewed the Malaysians said the passengers claimed they were going to Davao City at the invitation of the KOJC.
They, however, could not show any proof of their financial capacity to support their stay in the country and admitted that they are unemployed.
One of the passengers, while being interviewed, unintentionally showed to the BI supervisors her mobile phone with an Excel screenshot of various anti-government slogans such as “BBM Resign,” “Stop KOJC Injustices,” and “AFP/PNP Protect the People.”
When asked to explain the screenshot, the passenger said she accidentally downloaded the said slogans from her Facebook/Messenger page.
The Malaysians have been placed in the immigration blacklist and banned from entering the country.
The KOJ meanwhile said the three were just about to attend the KOJC anniversary and will not join any rally.
