IMMIGRATION Commissioner Jaime Morente yesterday prohibited immigration officers assigned in the country’s international airports from posting in the social media platform Tiktok videos of themselves dancing or singing while wearing their uniforms and while on duty.
BI Port Operations chief Carlos Capulong said Morente has ordered him to investigate the spread of videos in Tiktok showing dancing or singing immigration officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which were taken while they were on duty and wearing their official uniform.
“I was instructed by Commissioner Morente to hold these errant employees liable by forwarding their cases to our Board of Discipline for investigation and filing of appropriate administrative cases,” Capulong said, adding that those who will continue to upload videos will face administrative cases for insubordination and misconduct.
Morente first banned BI employees from posting videos in Tiktok that were taken while they were at work on December last year. He said the act denigrates the bureau as an institution, and that such acts were unbecoming of government employees who should always conduct themselves with professionalism and integrity.
“Our policy on the wearing of the BI uniform is clear. As public servants, employees must proudly wear their uniform at all times, present a professional image to the public and observe proper decorum and good taste in all their actions while they are on duty,” Morente said when he imposed the prohibition.
Capulong said the agents can also be held liable for violating a standing ban on the use of cellular phones and other electronic gadgets while agents are on duty.
