Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino has called for the immediate implementation of a Bureau Immigration (BI) policy to reimburse the expenses of Filipino passengers whose travels were deferred or denied without basis.

In the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Magsino pointed out the BI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001 as vital for affected passengers waiting for the reimbursement process.

The 2024 national budget includes a special provision that mandated the reimbursement of passengers who were left behind by their flights after being subjected to lengthy interrogation by immigration staff, said Magsino.

“Kailangang tiyakin na ma-ipapatupad ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang masiguro ang kanilang karapatan at maibsan ang kanilang gastusin” she also said.

Aside from the departure ticket, Magsino also recommended revisions to the draft guidelines, particularly suggesting the reimbursement of additional legitimate expenses of offloaded passengers, such as food and lodging.

She also questioned the lengthy reimbursement process, which can take up to 75 days that needs to be revised.

Based on BI records, 32,404 Filipino passengers were not allowed to proceed with their flights last year, of which 472 were found to be victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment.

While she acknowledged the BI’s role in combating human trafficking and illegal recruitment, Magsino stressed that the agency must also show compassion to passengers, particularly OFWs, wrongly offloaded without legal justification.