SEVERAL officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are facing investigation for failing to comply with the agency’s directive, which bans them from posting videos of themselves dancing or singing while they are on duty and in uniform over the popular social networking site called TikTok.
In a memorandum to all BI port personnel, Immigration port operations chief, lawyer Carlos Capulong said employees who will be found guilty of disregarding the order may be charged with administrative cases for insubordination and misconduct.
It can be recalled that in December of last year BI Commissioner Jaime Morente banned BI employees in uniform from posting on TikTok, saying the act denigrates the bureau as an institution and unbecoming of government employees who should always conduct themselves with professionalism and integrity.
As public servants, Morente reminded that 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 on duty.
He added that the TikTok videos undermine the BI’s reputation and create a negative image for the agency’s personnel, especially its frontline immigration officers.
Capulong said Morente has ordered him to investigate reports that some BI employees assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) continued to post videos on TikTok, which were taken while they were on duty and on 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 the appropriate administrative cases,” Capulong said, while noting that employees are prohibited from using cellular phones and other electronic gadgets while on duty.
Capulong said the TikTok videos of BI employees in uniform could not have been taken if they were not on duty at the time, thus, a clear violation of the ban on the use of mobiles and gadgets while on duty.