Bureau of Immigration bars entry of 3 Malaysian nationals who are alleged KOJC members

MANILA, Philippines – Bureau of Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) barred three Malaysian nationals, who are alleged members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), from entering the Philippines.

In a statement on Sunday, September 1, the BI said the trio — Jessica Lynn Henry, Mimielianna Annie Anak Leesoi, and Andrijosebaul Anak Garra — reportedly arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1 on August 27 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the trio arrived in the country with a group of Filipinos who later “abandoned” them after they were referred for inspection by the commission.

Tansingco added the Malaysian nationals were intercepted for “being likely to become a public charge, after they were flagged for seemingly suspicious intent in the country.”

“Our immigration officers discovered their intent to participate in anti-government demonstrations being staged by KOJC members who are protesting the ongoing manhunt for Pastor Quiboloy,” Tansingco said.

The BI said that they found an Excel screenshot of various anti-government slogans such as “BBM Resign,” “Stop KOJC Injustices,” and “AFP/PNP Protect the People” from the mobile phones of the three Malaysian nationals. It was found that they were supposed to go to Davao City at the invitation of the KOJC, but they couldn’t present any proof that they could finance their stay in the country.

In their defense, the Malaysian nationals said they accidentally downloaded the said materials for the KOJC protest. They were boarded back to a flight to Malaysia last August 28. They have also been placed on an immigration blacklist and have been banned from entering the country.

“Foreigners have no business interfering in the country’s internal political affairs, thus aliens who join these protest actions can be expelled for violating our immigration laws and for being undesirable aliens,” Tansingco said.

Tansingco was referring to KOJC members who are protesting the arrest of their fugitive leader, doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted for cases of sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and human trafficking. – Rappler.com