Luli Arroyo and Immigration Officer Incident

[mahadera25]

Comment ko lang...

Yan napala ng mga feeling powerful na Immigration Officer!

Sana maging aral sa kanila to! So next time, smile na lang kayo ha! Wag na magtaray!

[mahadera25]

Arroyo daughter comes to defense of Filipinos in NAIA queue


By Nikko Dizon
Inquirer
Last updated 05:48am (Mla time) 11/02/2006

Published on Page A1 of the November 2, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE USUALLY low-key First Daughter questioned an immigration officer who had allowed a foreigner to jump the line of passengers waiting to be checked in at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday afternoon, according to a source at the NAIA.

But the clueless officer did not recognize Evangeline Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo, and even demanded that she wait, said the source, who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak with the media.

The officer, who was later identified as Edgar Padlan, is now on “floating” status, the source said.

Luli, accompanied by her sister-in-law, Kakai Manotok-Arroyo, and the latter’s young daughter, was on her way to Hong Kong to join her parents, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Jose Miguel Arroyo.

This was how the source recounted the turn of events:

The Arroyos were waiting in line at the Bureau of Immigration’s special lane for diplomats and VIPs when Luli saw that the foreigner had cut the line and the immigration officer had started processing his travel documents.

Luli went over to the officer and asked why he had allowed the foreigner to get ahead of everyone else.

Why Filipinos?

To the surprise of onlookers, the officer snapped at Luli: “Hindi ka ba marunong maghintay (Don’t you know how to wait)?!”

The source said Luli was “obviously peeved” and was heard retorting: “Bakit kaming mga Pilipino ang pinapagalitan mo? Bakit hindi yung foreigner (Why are you scolding us Filipinos? Why not the foreigner)?”

This was how the source told the rest of the story:

The immigration officer’s colleagues vainly tried to get his attention to subtly tell him that he was talking to the First Couple’s only daughter.

Eventually, the officer’s supervisor stepped in and explained to Luli that the foreigner was late for his flight and that his papers had to be expedited.

Luli replied that that was all she was waiting for -- a proper explanation to the other passengers waiting in line.

“It actually looked like a scene from a gag show. He was completely clueless who Luli was. Supposedly, he even told Luli that she shouldn’t be in that lane because it was reserved for diplomats and VIPs,” the source said.

And where was Luli’s close-in guards from the Presidential Security Group the entire time?

According to the source, Luli always tells her PSG guards to keep their distance and let her do things on her own at the NAIA, such as falling in line, checking in and carrying her bags.

‘Unacceptable’ incident

The immigration officer has been temporarily relieved of his post at the airport, BI-NAIA head supervisor Ferdinand Sampol told the Inquirer.

He said Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez had ordered an investigation of the incident.

“May nangyaring hindi maganda (Something unpleasant happened). It was unacceptable. Immigration officers should not be rude or arrogant to any passenger, whether they are members of the First Family or regular people,” Sampol said.

He said the BI “wants to know what happened because in fairness to our immigration officer, he’s a seasoned [staff member] and this is the first time such a thing happened to him.”

Sampol also said that among the things to be investigated was whether the foreigner was indeed late for his flight, which was purportedly why the immigration officer processed his travel papers ahead of the others waiting in the special lane, including Luli Arroyo.



Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[plalais]

i hope he gets the proper sanction. i somehow think that after this issue dies down, he will be reinstated (rehired) and will be back to his old ways, getting tips from foreigners for giving them the VIP treatment and maltreating fellow Filipinos.

[Steely_Damned]

luli arroyo is probably the most low-key, unassuming, and well-mannered person you'll ever meet. i got to know her because of dato arroyo, another great guy who just happens to be a member of the first family together with luli. no comment na lang ako kay mikey

[mahadera25]

korek! nagtataxi pa daw pala itong si luli from malacanang to makati na nde alam ng mga PSG bigla na lang nawawala sa malacanang! hala! at least di sya kapansin pansin kasi wala syang bodyguard! tama nga naman ang style nya.

[KuyaDanny]

I have been in the immigration line at the airport many times, and I see this practice quite often. They will call out the flights about to depart and if anybody on that flight is in line, he will be pulled out and taken to the head of the line to be "expedited". As long as the airport people keep doing this, these incidents are bound to be repeated.

I think if you are late, tough. You miss your flight. What would be the point of being early if the late guys get special treatment?

[lilsue]

An incident happened to me and my cousins with an immigration officer as well at NAIA 2. Our passport was about to expire in 2 months. We were also headed for HK. I guess it was also our fault kasi passports should always be renewed 6 months before. Since we were in a package tour naman good for 4 days sa tingin namin ok lang. Pero yung immigration officer sobrang mega sermon talaga na para ang trato samin ay maids. Grabe! Kahit nakita na niya yung apelyido namin sa passport wala siyang paki. Wala namang kaming binabanggit na kamag-anak namin si ganito or ganyan, pero may sinabi na kaagad na "wala akong paki kung kamag-anak kayo ni ganito or ganyan." Super cruel talaga. Then may pinapirma samin na papakita daw nila sa HK immigration incase ma-question sila kung bakit kami pinayagan umalis.

Ito ngayon nangyari, pag dating sa HK immigration, as in wala lang, tinanong lang kami kung hanggang kelan kami dun tapos wala na.

Grabe lang talaga ang halos lahat ng mga taga immigration!

[true_steppers]

buti nga dun sa immigration officer... dapat matuto lahat yan, sumosobrang bastos na kasi e

friend ko medyo nabastos na rin nung mga officers na yan e (ibang situation lang nga), dapat maganyan silang lahat ni luli para naman magising sila at malaman na airport staff lang sila

[mahadera25]

Ang feeling ko lang kasi sa mga immigration officer na to parang tingin nila sa lahat ng Pinoy na aalis sa bansa ay mga mangmang... Feeling superior sila kasi may power sila na ideny ka paalisin ng bansa.

[Expat80]

The immigration officer should have explained politely the reason why he let the foreigner cut in line; such as late for the connecting flight. Government employees are considered "public servant" and should be required to get training on client service. Maybe this is unheard of in the Philippines.

One time I travelled from Canada to Mexico for a holiday and mistakenly brought an expired passport. I encountered no problem at all with the Mexican immigration officer.

[ina_bonita]

i had my experience with them...it was last year, my first time to go abroad and i was alone..so sobrang linis ng passport ko. i queud in and when she's processing my docs she asked me kelan daw balik ko so i showed my round trip ticket...at di pa siya nakontento she asked for my itinerary e nagkataon i had it in my checked in luggage so ayaw nya talaga ako paalisin hanggat di ko napoproduce yun itinerary ko...as in mega taray sya na kesyo andami daw nagpupunta sa ibang bansa tapos di na bumabalik...pumila na *** ako sa ibang linya at eto ka wala namng tanong..kakainis pinahirapan lang akong pumila uli..pero ok *** malamang menopause at naiinggit *** sya sa mga taong umaalis kc sya di makaalis dun sa kinauupuan nya...hehehe

[mahadera25]

Originally Posted by ina_bonita

i had my experience with them...it was last year, my first time to go abroad and i was alone..so sobrang linis ng passport ko. i queud in and when she's processing my docs she asked me kelan daw balik ko so i showed my round trip ticket...at di pa siya nakontento she asked for my itinerary e nagkataon i had it in my checked in luggage so ayaw nya talaga ako paalisin hanggat di ko napoproduce yun itinerary ko...as in mega taray sya na kesyo andami daw nagpupunta sa ibang bansa tapos di na bumabalik...pumila na *** ako sa ibang linya at eto ka wala namng tanong..kakainis pinahirapan lang akong pumila uli..pero ok *** malamang menopause at naiinggit *** sya sa mga taong umaalis kc sya di makaalis dun sa kinauupuan nya...hehehe

kaloka to ha! pero may point ka! hahahaha

feeling ko bitter bitteran sila sa mga aalis ng pinas!!! at lalo na kung mejo nde ka kayamanang tingnan, as in may pagka-alipin ang looks mo tapos magtotour ka lang, hala! inggit ang mga yan!!!

i bet kaya sinigaw sigawan ang presidential daughter kasi inassume ng immigration officer na ******* ***** itong babaeng ito at dito pumila! hhahaha!!!

[mahadera25]

samantalang sa Malaysia nung nagpunta ko napakabait nung gwapong immigration officer!!! i think he's in his late twenties tapos mejo indian ang features nya, tapos parang naggygym ang katawan! to think na may karapatan syang magsungit pero kung todo ang smile nya sa akin!!! hayyy.... sabi pa nya.. "so how is the philippines right now, my friend? i've been to your country and it's a nice place!" may bati pa talaga eh!!! chika ko din sya! hehehhehe!!

[GreatBop]

"
I think if you are late, tough. You miss your flight. What would be the point of being early if the late guys get special treatment?"


no.. because immigration happens AFTER CHECK IN.

which means the plane has to wait for your @rse to board before they can start taxi.

[rem_koolhaas]

thanks luli. you and dato are the only ones giving the macapagal arroyo family the few remaining respect it deserves.

the immigration people in most countries really have that cold and terrorizing look when in duty and smart tignan. sa pilipinas lang ang immigration eh mukhang government clerk desk.

[chasingtime]

hip hip hurray for luli!!!

[bankereconomist]

Nung June nagpunta ako sa HK with someone... PAL kami kaya sa Centenial Airport kami, mabait ang immigration officer at mabait siyang nagtanong sa amin. pero may dala akong old passport kasi bago passport ko advise lang ng friend ko.

Pagdating namin sa HK parang walang pakialam ang mga immigration officer, babae pa naman din... dapat ba binabato ang passport?

Pagdating namin sa Shenzhen China strict ang immigration, bawal magpicture (actually lahat ng government properties bawal magpicture). Pagbalik namin galing ng Shenzhen nagkamali ako ng bigay ng passport kasi nabigay ko ang sa kasama (nagkapalit kami) kasi hindi pwede sa kanila ang sabay di tulad dito sa atin. biglang napatayo ang immigration officer at tiningnan kami as in parang babarilin kami. Noong nasa HK na as usual wala pa ring manners ang immigration dahil binabato ang passport. Siyempre pabalik ng Pilipinas okay na.

Noong August, pinagbawal ang liquid, lotion at gel... so hirap na hirap kaming nagpack ng gamit namin kasi long flight ito at ang mga bagay gaya ng pabango, cosmetics, at water hindi pwede eh bago kami sa bumaba sa airport gagamitin pa iyon. Binuksan ngayon lahat ng gamit namin 4 kaming nagtravel at 14 ang luggages namin 30KG naman ang allowed magaan ang luggage namin kasi may dala kaming 2 set ng seatcover at carmat bulky yun diba? yung check in luggage officer parang ayaw maniwala sa amin na ganun lang ang bigat... sabi ko "buhatin mo kaya" tapos meron nakikiusap ng matino kahit na isang bote ng tubig para sa anak na 2yo (longflight tpos 2 hrs lang ang stop over di ka naman pwedeng bumaba bumili ng water para sa gatas at naka check in ang gatas) ang sungit nung sumagot...

sa immigration officer magtatalo kami kasi parents ko at kapatid ko resident visa ako tourist visa... sabi ko hindi ako nagpunta before kasi nagaral ako dito sa philippines... tapos may mga korean sa likod ko (iba kasi ang pila ng tourist diba?) biglang sinigawan ng immigration at minura kasi hindi marunong magenglish tapos ang nakakatuwa takot na takot ang mga koreans habang ako tawa ng tawa kasi mali mali mag english ang immigration officer.

[sherleh]

har har. sobrang as in malas lang niya at natapat ang kanyang kasungitan sa first daughter. chaka, tama naman si Luli. hindi naman isyu dito yung kesyo hindi niya nakilala yung first daughter, but the fact that he was rude to her. he could've explained naman ng maayos kung may valid reason na isingit yung foreigner.

[junben_c]

huwag niyo naman agad ijudge yung immigration officer. curious lang ako kung paano approach ni luli. baka naman nagtaray kaya nabanatan siya tuloy. diba masusungit din ang mga matatandang dalaga? :-)

[erwinjansen]

sa tngin ko may right naman si luli na magtaray (kung nag taray *** pagka-approach )kc naka pila ka tapos meron biglang mauuna *** na hindi *** man marunung mag intay db??? parang nakakainis...tsaka sabi ng sis ko masusungit daw mga immigration officer lalo na kpag earliest flight *** kinukuha mo...