The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is moving to implement a total ban on mobile phone use at its detention facilities in Taguig and Muntinlupa following a series of security breaches involving high-profile foreign detainees.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado announced the policy shift on Saturday, stating that personal gadgets will be replaced by monitored landlines and dedicated video call booths.
The new system is designed to allow detainees to maintain contact with legal counsel and family while ensuring all communications are centralized and supervised by the bureau.
The decision follows a massive “double crackdown” and raids conducted Friday at the BI Warden’s Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, and a secondary unit in Muntinlupa.
The operations, coordinated with the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Corrections, were prompted by public claims made by recently deported Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who alleged he had consistent mobile phone access during his nine-month stay in BI custody.
“When abuse occurs, action must be taken immediately,” Viado said in a statement. “While these are temporary holding areas and not provincial jails, the use of gadgets is highly regulated. We will not tolerate gaps in our security protocols.”
The Friday sweep yielded various contraband, including unauthorized mobile devices, excessive cash, cigarettes, and sharp objects.
The investigation has already resulted in the immediate dismissal of three personnel—one contractual agent and two regular staff—linked to an alleged phone-smuggling syndicate.
Initial findings suggest some detainees bypassed security with help from external contacts, including the spouse of one foreign national.
Viado warned that further dismissals are likely as the internal probe continues, emphasizing that staff found remiss in their duties will face the “harshest consequences.”
The proposed ban seeks to standardize security across all BI-managed facilities to prevent future unauthorized communication.