Could you be deported?
I wrote a column on Saturday about getting a mortgage in the Philippines. In the comments on the column, there was a lot of talk about the debate over which is better, buying or renting property. One thing that was pointed out several times in the discussion is that as foreigners, we cannot own property in the Philippines.
Yes, there are ways to buy a house. The easiest is if you are married to a Filipina, you buy the house in her name. Foreigners can also buy Condominiums, but only a maximum of 40% of the entire Condo unit can be foreign owned. All in all, it is a good idea to keep in mind that as a foreigner, you simply cannot own real estate property in the Philippines. For years now, there has been discussion about changing the Constitution of the country to allow for foreign ownership of property, but for now it does not appear that such a change will be coming through any time soon.
As Dave Starr pointed out in the conversation, if you do buy, under the conditions I described previously, if there is a marital problem or something along those lines, you stand to lose your property.
I have another consideration, though. What if you were deported? Don’t blow this off, deportation of foreigners is something that happens every day. Did you know that you can be deported for simply getting angry and raising your voice at a Filipino? It’s true! Let’s say that you are in a restaurant and the service is poor. You loose your cool and get angry at the waitress. She can go to the Bureau of Immigration and file a complaint against you, and most likely, you will be deported! There is some kind of rule or law that says that you are not allowed to be disrespectful to a Filipino.
For me, this goes a little too far. I mean, everybody gets mad from time to time, and I feel that it should not be a deportable offense, however, this is the law, and you and I are not the ones who decide on it.
Here in Davao, there are often cases where foreigners are up for review for deportation. I know of one case where a British man in Davao was jailed for physical abuse of his girlfriend and he was nearly deported for that. Last year, a Korean was seen on the golf course yelling at his Filipino caddy, and he was deported for that. These cases seem to pop up in the news every few months or so.
What would you do if you owned a house, and ended up being deported?
For me, I feel that I have lived here long enough that I have learned to control my anger when it is present. I can also say that I have lost my cool in past years plenty of times, and was just lucky that I was not deported, or in some kind of trouble over such incidents. Now, I rarely get mad in public, though. However, you just never know what might happen!
Hello Bob,
Thats a interesting way to look at it and I agree about the Philippines depending heavily on Vietnamese and Thai rice, also some of the alledged local rice ppl buy is simply re-sacked NFA rice, including some that comes from the formentioned countrys. I once had a NBI director in Butuan tell me that 60% of the premium rice for sell at that time in the city where just re-sacked rice. I cant say it came as a surprise though as just few nights before I had a filipino taklk to me about the proffits that could be earned through re-sacking rice as he’d been doing it himself.
However, Despite the Jobs and etc that such investments would bring in if foreign land ownership should be allowed I still think its not good because in my oppinion no investment is worth the possibility of effecting national soveriegnty. I meen with the ammounts of investments, that would bring with it even more corruption, the corruption would give these foreign investors the ability to dictate policy and with that could also open the nation up to rampant exploitation of the populace at foreign hands. Granted exploitation allready exist in the Philippines just as it exist in every society throughout are earth but the idea of foreign exploitation of a soveriegn nation is especially bad. Che Guavera possibly put it best when he said
“The inflow of capital from the developed countries is the prerequisite for the establishment of economic dependence. This inflow takes various forms: loans granted on onerous terms; investments that place a given country in the power of the investors; almost total technological subordination of the dependent country to the developed country; control of a country’s foreign trade by the big international monopolies; and in extreme cases, the use of force as an economic weapon in support of the other forms of exploitation. ”
Justin
Hello Bob,
Many 1st world nations nations as well as 3rd world nations have lost pieces of their national sovereignty through the acceptance of foreign loans and investments. Its my oppinion that anytime a foreign nation must be taken into consideration when considering policy that thats a sign of lost sovereignty as a nations purpose is to protect and serve the interest of its own populace and not to act in the best interest of a foriegn powers to who they are indebted to rather the debts be in monitary form or other.
Have you noticed how in many Philippine familys theres a OFW who almost signle handedly supports the family through their remitances and how that person regardless of rather they are older or younger often gains a high level of influence over the family that theyd in all probabilty otherwise not have if not for their monitary support? Its in my oppinion the same thing when nations are involved with the diffrence being the stakes are much higher due to the ammounts involved being much larger and the strings attached much thicker although at times less transparent.
Out of curiosity, Have you ever read the NDF’s proposed plans on these topic? Im in no way a supporter of their ideologys but some of the NDF’s plans make good sense in the way that they apply to developing nations. I think theyd not work in long run as outside influences would apply pressures but in theory they are very interesting.
Merry Christmas ,
Justin
Interesting thread. As a ‘foreigner’ living and working out of Cebu – mainly risk mitigation – I have come accross a number of instances against clients, friends and even myself where the threat of deportation has been raised.
Justin is smack on when even if a small dispute a Filipino will for the gain of a few thousand peso will threaten a foreigner with deportation or estoppel on travel.
The truth is that this threat of deportation is real.
1. Technically it is not that simple to be deported, however, with corruption and the arrogance that accompanies the middle and upper classes the world over the system is subject to wholesale abuse.
2. The source of most problems is not actually events such as dissing the ultra-nationalism of the Filipinos by not standing for the national anthem – I enjoy raising a clenched fist whilst standing and not covering the heart! but I still stand – or disputing a small sum etc – the problem lies quite often with the family of the partner! Most of the cases of threat of deportation, extortion, complaint etc. stem from family members of the partner who eye a fortune by doing over a foreigner (and dont forget the ulterior motives of the wife! and conspiracy with their family!).
3. The game has been played for decades and they are very good at it!
So what to do when confronted by this situation?
1. keep calm.
2. talk to friends for moral support/advice.
3. get a lawyer.
4. stay somewhere safe and out of the locale (depending on circumstance of who is trying to @##$ you). No investment nor pride is worth your safety. Get to Cebu etc for some r&r and consider to file a case against your accuser there!
5. talk through a lawyer or through an agent with the ACO at your immigration office.
6. consider striking back with a TRO and a law suit – defamation, exemplary damages etc… Use the law against the system – it has to be seen to work even if it doesnt! protest your rights under the law!
7. get someone to mediate, preferably let the lawyers do that.
Certain facts of the case.
The BI has no power to deport without a court order (if you are fighting a judge you can still fight back!)
Fight the court order!
You are not feterred to travel in any way whatsoever by a case being filed against you in the BI or with the Bgay etc. They have to get a stop order against you which again requires a court order. The BI can only place you on record and refuse you a clearance if the case merits it. In that case go through Manila Airport! Do not get a connecting flight etc.
What can be done?
I like the idea raised here for a seperate collumn in this blog of examples of abuse against foreigners (and vice versa) to shame the authorities into acting.
Pressure your local area for a ‘foreigner’ relations department. A one stop liaison officer for foreigners to contact in the time of need. I have heard of such being established in southern Mindanao with some success.
Remember the Philippines is economically bankrupt (as with the world system) and they rely on remittances and the foreign investment of you guys to survive.
The case in the south i mention arose after a major foreign investment by a government was cancelled for that area when the originator of the investment suffered at the hands of unscrupulous individuals who attempted an extortion against him and his wife. They had already set up many ngo programmes etc. the local government got pissed at that!
We have economic power – despite the arrogance of the middle and ruling class – use it. With a wall of shame they may start to tread a bit more carefully. Also we will have a resource for the newbies to learn from.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed!
In my estimation 90% of foreigners suffer one or more bad experiences when ‘investing’ in the Philippines.
I personally know that the authorities (warlords etc) are aware of the problem and are worried. I can give one example. I was stayng in Mindanao at a hotel meeting up with a politico buddy in the regional government. I had met a foreigner newly married from Europe and first time in Philippines. There was some commotion at their tables and he came over white as a sheet. Someone texted that a bomb would explode in the hotel and he would die!
15 minutes later the police arrive – in two minutes the politico’s forces were already there searchiing the hotel. We calmed him down and said not to worry. It transpired it was his wife’s sister who made the threat – angry at not being invited to their banquet!
He swore never to come back and left for Cebu the next day – a wealthy man who had ideas on investments etc. Lost forever as a source of investment. My politico friend at witnessing this immediately arranged a meeting with the governor to address the problem.
I will post some examples of abuse I have come accross – funny cases in the part – extreme in others. Please see fit to add them to a wall of shame!
A guy I met a couple of years ago had rented a nice house for 6 months whilst he arranged to buy a house for his new wife. A few months later whilst away on business in his home country he let his wife make the arrangements to move out. Upon returning he sought the return of his deposit. The landlord refused citing damage to the property. There was of course none. The landlord agreed to repay.
Aftre the months dragged by the guy politely enquired a few times as to when the small amount would be repaid. Nothing was heard. He went to the landlord’s house personally – not there – and left a message.
The next day, his wife – in tears – came to him. “Hon we have to leave, the landlord contacted my mother and they are having you deported for tresspass and harrassement.”
Frightened at this prospect and with a family upset and in laws deathly worried the guy contaced a lawyer he knew.
The money was repaid and the landlord blottered.
The amount of money that was worth all the upset? P3,500.00!
Thanx Bob – am a big fan of the site. This is the only thread that i have been provoked to answer to. A few things happened to friends of mine in your neck of the woods last year that made me somewhat angry.
My point was in reference to a couple that did not stand for the anthem – a few years ago – in Subic if i remember. They were a national scandal for not standing for the anthem. threats of deportation etc. At least i stand!
A balance has to be drawn and I agree keep it quiet is best. But in many ways you can voice dissent even if not so discretely. I can also assure you that I am not alone when making that jesture in public!
Another case i remember – public one – was the case of the gentleman who spoke about corruption in the Philippines. A trappo responded demanding his deportation for insulting the Philippines.
The trappo said and i paraphrase… ‘ Foreigners cannot talk this way and insult our country even though corruption is a major problem here.’!
I will remember that one till i die.
Bob: We’ve all heard the stories, and I have a suggestion for foreigners living here… It relates to your last SIR article: Using a “go-between”. One of the reasons we are living where we are is that our “landlord” is a long-term friend of Rebecca’s: over 20 years. Having someone who knows the ins and outs of how things get done here is invaluable. If someone can intervene on your behalf in the case of conflict, it is far less likely to escalate to the point of losing face or a shouting match. Sophie got involved in an overcharging situation, where my gut would have been to simply tell the person to go get ******. Instead, I kept my mouth shut, pulled out a little note pad, wrote down some particulars, and called Sophie… She handled it. Problem solved. Having a relative, friend, business contact, or someone else who is trustworthy to intervene is a huge help, not just in disputes, but in getting things done.
I also am well aware that in these dispute cases, I let Rebecca do the talking… We got into a dispute with a taxi driver here. He made an outside threat that he was NBI and that my legality could be questioned (At this point, I had said nothing… just stood their looking stupid). Becky can make him lose face (Boy, did she ever!), but I cannot. The best thing for foreigners to do is to keep their mouths shut and deal with it later. My government connections run very high here, but there are limits. Ultimately, despite marriage, or whatever, I am a foreigner here and have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Yes, you can outspend someone, and that tactic may work (Though, what if the other person has nothing to lose, eh?), but this is ultimately not your country, and it can get very, very expensive very quickly to defend against some stupidity that didn’t need to happen.
I met someone on my flight home last week who was meeting his wife-to-be for the first time. He was talking about very grandiose business and house plans, and, after listening to him for around 1/2 hour, I finally asked him, “How well do you really know her? Have you been to the RP before?” He had never visited and knew her from 6 months on the Internet. I told him, “Hey Bud, I wish you luck, and I hope things work out, but I think you have no earthly idea what you are getting yourself into.” I then referred him to LiP and told him to read up a bit.
To back up the point on mediation – but with strength!
A friend of mine came over after a harrowing experience in your area.
He met a girl – not internet – rare I know – fell in love etc. She began behaving erratically, causing an argument at nite and storming out. One nite and very late – she smashed some things and left. Worried about the lateness etc he went after her. After a screaming and hitting (her on him) session in the street he left her and went to a bar.
The next day the girl’s brother demanded to see him. Demanded a substantial amount of money for hospitalisation etc. and showed a RECEIPT from a doctor; if not he would be arrested.
He got out!
Text demands for payment followed – death threats etc. the most vile racism etc.
I forwarded them to a friend who followed up.
A corrupt doctor, the brother and another with the girl concocted it all. The other turned out to be the husband. he was prostituting her out to get the guy. A moral exists here – dont fall for a girl on the internet or the street and never in a bar!
My friend had a discrete chat with these guys – the vile messages and threats stopped a case was put with no follow up to be done.
That mediation worked.
My friend has returned and is enjoying life with a certain amount of caution but safe and secure and a lesson learnt – he was disuaded to pursue the return of some P50,000.00 in cash and gifts.
That was the counterplay along with the threat of prosecution.
Th epoint being is that in simple disputes it is okay to have family sort the problem. Where the family is not strong or the opponent stronger, the state are required to intervene whether a lawyer or senior police. With the lower level police etc. well thats a different matter…
A guy i know – my area not yours and he wont mind retelling the story – intervened when an ex came to his house drunk and with a knife. The ex aparantly tried to stab the guy and his girl and then went amok with the neighbors. fearing for everyones saftey he grappled the girl to the ground got the knife and she was restrained .
When everyone went to the police station the guy was charged with assaulting the ex! Go figure! it was only when the case went higher up that the nonsense was stopped and the junior officer repremanded!
Bob just out of curiosity isn’t your site hosted in the USA and if I am not mistaken doesn’t that means that any and all comments posted here regardless of where they originated from cannot be considered libelous in the Philippines even if the poster wrote them in the Philippines.
For example, there is a very popular Philippine blog site of a guy (his name alludes me) that mercilessly slams the upper society and governmental people of the Philippines. He has hundreds of thousands of visitors monthly and it is doubtful there is any liability to him or his posters many of course living and posting from the Philippines. No sense tempting fate but, it does diminish a site like yours which only offers a pretty picture of a place with lots of problems like so many countries. Any chance you can cover some harder issues that some newbies may not be aware of and are in for a rude awakening. Your SIR articles were great.
Kumander,
I enjoyed reading your stories as they are so typical of how situations can p[lay out in the Philippines. In my past pre AA days (Im now 3yrs sober) I was a bit of a hellion and had some problems as a result both of my on and not of my own making. Anyway, Was threatened with deportation several times but to be honest it was a bit funny to me as I knew how the laws worked and could see the people where simply talking BS. I tell you some of the stories.
Once got drunk and backed into a car that belonged to a fellow named Nester Burgos. Anyway, I went home and next day we met at the police station traffic office and he appeared with a estimate of 150tphp to fix his old junky car that wasnt even worth that price. Also, He stated I also owed him 1500php per day for lost wages as he used his car to deliver eggs, how funny. At that point he proceeded to get me angry by telling me if I didnt pay him hed file a case against me so I couldnt leave. I stayed nice but knew it was BS as just fling a case doesnt equate to a hold departure. I told him to go ahead and file a case and Id do likewise and wed both pay acceptance fees and Id drag the case out so long hed go broke.
At that point I told him to file a case and left the police station and went home. Next day he called and asked if we can again meet at police station. I agreed and once there he started again demanding money. I told him Id get three estimates and would pay the lesser of the three and the estimates would come from shops of my choice. I then went to two shops and then to my friends shop and lowest estimate was 4.5tphp. I told the fellow Id pay him 5.5tphp so hed earn 1tphp for his trouble going without a car.
Afterwards fellow was still driving the wrecked car and come to find out he had made a deal with a corrupt policeman to try to extort money out of me which theyd plan to half with each other. In end it didnt work since I knew the law and stood my ground but just the same the policeman still wanted his half the money which the fellow had to give him at the result of no longer having the needed aount of cash to fix his car.
I think it good to stand your ground and if possible handle your own issues as you will undoubtedly try harder to get favorable results than would a go between who has no incentive as they are negotiating using your cash.
Justin
Another time was in a bar with a Irishman. The waitor delivered the check and tried to charge us for all kinds of drinks and such we never ordered. They charged us for ladys drinks even though we specifically told them we wanted to not be bothered by their ladys nor had any desire to purchase the ladys any drinks but on checks we somehow had many ladys drinks on the check together with our own drinks. I told waitor we didnt order it and wherent paying for it and he proceeded to say we are and cant do anything about it. At that point the irish guy lost his temper and stated he had a gun in the car and he was going to get it, he had no gun even. At that point we got rushed by nearly everyone ion the bar and I ended up putting 4 people in the hospital including one who lost his euyesight. During fight a cop came in to break it up and came behind me. I didnt know he was a cop and turned around to hit him but stopped once I saw the uniform. I didnt hit him or anything though.
We then where told to drive ourselves to the police station and where approached by the cop from the bar and the chief inspector. The cop from bar say he going to file case unless we gave him money and asked us for 40tphp as he said his various girlfriends had school tuition do and he needed cash. Anyway just put him off and went home.
The next day it got even more interesting as the owner of bar had a fiscal named Fiscal Abugo contact us and arrange a meeting at anotyher bar to discuss the situation. The entire thing seemed fishy but just the same we went anyway and to no surprise they demanded money also in the sum of another 50tphp. We left and the irishmans aunt had the idea to see if there was really a case filed. The outcome was there was a case filed but it was with abnother fiscal and not Abugo. I guess there plan was to run a hustle on us and collect money from us using the scammer fiscal as well as then try to collect more using the legitimate fiscal, im unsure though truly what their plan was. We then proceeded to other fiscal and paid 5tphp to have case dismissed outrightly with the bar owner and the hospitalized ppl getting nothing.
We still had problem though of the corrupt cops wanting money but luckly a provencial director helped us out by arranging an entrapment case where we where to pay the policemen with marked bills. In the end one was re-assigned and other was serriously demoted.
Later one of the guys Id put in hospital tried to make a problem for me at our barangay hall but the case was kicked out as it had allready been dismissed by the fiscal.
Also, Once had a problem with a soldier who pulled a gun on me, a person trying to file a fake case against me to finance a birthday party for themself, a policeman selling me a stolen vehical etc but that was last time police ever tried to exort money from me.
Bob,
LOLOL It wasnt interesting , I just engaged in many foolish action in that time as I was still very young and was still a practicing Alcoholic.
Those above arent even the wildest storys as also got involved in a clan war between my wifes family and a family of chinese druglords, this lead to being in multiple gun fights and etc including having my car bombed in front of my house. Was also subject to rumors that at times took bad turns such as the time someone told that I was engaged in shabu manufacturing and distribution and the NBI actually put me on a watch list and even questioned a few other expats as well as my neighbors about my commings and goings and my alledged illegal enterprise. I never did run such a enterprise but was investigated for it just the same.
Justin
Hi Bob.
Scary stuff…..well worth the time to read all the comments.
Now I know why my partner doesnt like me to drive when I visit.I have a very low tolerance rate for poor driving skills and make it known.She is always telling me not to “throw” my temper at inconsiderate drivers.
BIG BIG mistake as I now know after reading the above comments.
18 months ago I had a guy do a U turn into the side of my car in Davao.The fact my 2 year old daughter could have been injured made me lose it big time as he was only bothered about his car.Things got heated and when the police arrived more time was spent arguing about MY threatening behaviour than the fact this idiot had crossed a central reservation into my path and could have killed my family.
I am sure it was only the fact that my partner had called the guy we had just bought the car from(he knew some people) and the agent and the old owner(who also knew some people) of our newly purchased house to defend us.
I have to say I objected to the fact she thought I was not able to defend myself but now realise I was probably on dangerous ground.
Thanks for the heads up and be assured I will be looking into having that part of my brain that controls road rage removed by my next visit.
As for the red mist that wells up and makes me crazy every now and again I will just have to keep taking the tablets.
AND a very merry xmas to you and your family.
It would be unfathomable for me to consider moving to the Philippines without sufficient funds to purchase whatever influence I would need in order to live a protected life in the Philippines. The spectre of authorities, or anyone with even moderate influence with the ability to destroy one’s peace of mind, or worse, cause you to be incarcerated (much less deported !) is more than I could bear. I know this is probably beyond the means of most expats that live there, but for me (and others I know that already live there), it would be essential for that sense of well-being. For a few thousand $US/year, one of my friends is basically “deportation proof” (except in the case of direct insult to one of the top 1/10 of 1%). It seems like a small price to pay for that peace of mind. It just seems sad that the Philippines is the way decribed in most of posts here. Where is the love?
Spencer,
I dont think you could buy impunity nor become depotation proof for only a few thousand bucks a year as small time Karera opperators pay more than that per month in SOPs to barangay capitans, police chiefs, Mayors and etc and just the same their machines get arrested at times. Its my oppinion that relling on ones connections is foolish because when the poop hits the fan are they going to risk their position to help a white boy? I doubt it. Not to mention a rfew thousand wouldnt be much to the powers that be as they often earn in excess of 1million php per day.
meen every city in PI has people who are above the law mafia types but for an example. In butuan theres a chinese family who is above the law but they set aside 20mphp (about 400,000usd) per year to pay-off the local officials, keep every decent atty on retainer so the attys cant handle cases against them due to conflich of interest, maintain private army, donate motorcycles and cars to the pnp, etc etc etc. They have these type folks in cebu and places also
I have no idea what it would cost once said and done but feel quite confident that there arent many expats who could afford it because should a person be monied enough to drop 400,000usd a year plus on pay-offs theysd in all probabilyleft their home nation.
Now if your friend got in media or etc do you really think the politicos would step up and pull him out of jail and send him home? If he got into it with the mafia types or even their distant relatives or trusted worker would the politicos help him at the expense of losing a much larger contributor? In PI legal syastem the foreigner generally gets shafted and regardless of rather you give a few thousand bucks or not youll still be a foreigner. Sounds like a good hustle to me, take the expats few thousand bucks a year tax free, let him think he has impunity but if poop hits fan bail on him and let him get shafted but be thankful for the years he paid you a few thousand bucks
Justin
Spencer,
I dont think you could buy impunity nor become depotation proof for only a few thousand bucks a year as small time Karera opperators pay more than that per month in SOPs to barangay capitans, police chiefs, Mayors and etc and just the same their machines get arrested at times. Its my oppinion that relling on ones connections is foolish because when the poop hits the fan are they going to risk their position to help a white boy? I doubt it.
More or less every city in PI has people who are above the law mafia types but for an example. In butuan theres a chinese family who is above the law but they set aside 20mphp (about 400,000usd) per year to pay-off the local officials, keep every decent atty on retainer so the attys cant handle cases against them due to conflich of interest, maintain private army, donate motorcycles and cars to the pnp, etc etc etc. They have these type folks in cebu and places also
I have no idea what it would cost once said and done but feel quite confident that there arent many expats who could afford it because should a person be monied enough to drop 400,000usd a year plus on pay-offs theyd in all probabily not
have left their home nation.
Now if your friend got in media or etc do you really think the politicos would step up and pull him out of jail and send him home? If he got into it with the mafia types or even their distant relatives or trusted worker would the politicos help him at the expense of losing a much larger contributor? In PI legal syastem the foreigner generally gets shafted and regardless of rather you give a few thousand bucks or not youll still be a foreigner. Sounds like a good hustle to me, take the expats few thousand bucks a year tax free, let him think he has impunity but if poop hits fan bail on him and let him get shafted but be thankful for the years he paid you a few thousand bucks. You would be far better just saving your money and using it to buy favorable outcomes when needed.
Justin
Hi Bob! I absolutely love visiting your web sites. You always have something interesting to read. I also appreciate the YouTube videos. Keep em’ coming!
Happy Holidays!
Junior
U.S.A.
Hi Bob. This has been a very informative post. Thanks, as always!
Thanks John Miele. Sometimes, I feel less than a man by alowing the taxi drivers to get over by overcharging me; sometimes more than the pre-agreed fare. I just swallow my pride and move on. If my filipino/a friends don’t speak up, I have to question their friendship, huh?
I am of the opinion that if I protest that many of the taxi drivers or locals will descend upon me if I and cause trouble if I don’t grin and bear it.
Maybe, I shouldn’t roam the country alone as I have when I visit.
Hmmm, I wonder if writing a negative article about a landlord or a pizza pub could result in disrespecting a Filipino and thus a deportation?
As far as the land ownership issue – I can understand why Pinoys want to keep the Philippine Islands to themselves; Chinese already own half of New York, and it would be easy for them to buy these islands right out from under the Pinoys feet – although a compromise might be to allow someone married to a Philippine Citizen to purchase up to 1,000 square meters of land in their name. Just a thought.
On the issue of deportation – THIS IS REALLY SCARY! I have been there 3 times so far, and plan on retiring there in 4 or 5 years, but have never heard of this happening! Does anyone know if it could happen to a Naturalized Citizen of the Philippines? For example, let’s say 10 years from now, I take the oath and become a Naturalized Citizen, could someone then do something which would lead to my deportation because I’m a “foreigner” – or would I be covered with the same legal rights & protections as a Native Citizen? BTW: I asked my wife about this – she’s from Virac, Catanduanes and Quezon City, Luzon – and she says she has never heard of anyone being deported like that. Still, it kinda makes one wonder…..
Thanks for that update, Bob, and for raising awareness. I will keep my head low for the first 5 years, then take that oath ASAP!!!!!
Hello Bob,Justin,David ,Kumander ,Jim,Dave Starr , and all the rest;
I know I am a month late for this conversation. I just wanted to add my thought on deportation. I for one have come close to being deported at least 3 times. have also be talked to about the black list. Every time it was miscommunication, and or the party that was wrong felt that as a foreigner I could not show them in the law that they were wrong. They would just say, “that is not how we do it here” ha ha the laughing was how I got in trouble. I guess I’m lucky that I am still here.
Maybe just Maybe the reason is I really try and speak the local dialect. I know that back in the states you hear all the time “If you are going to live here learn to speak English” I am trying very hard to assimilate into the culture. I left the U.S.A. for a reason.. I don’t want to bring it here. After 11 years I am starting to get better at being quit “promise”
Just a thought….
Gary from Surigao City
Hi Bob, this site is very enlightening^^. I am a Filipina from CEbu. I was searching about deportation cases in the Philippines and i ended up here in your site.
Recently my boyfriend went through a deportation proceeding. It really saddened me so much and much worse I was terribly embarrassed about my country’s justice system. I know there are foreigners who deserve to be deported ( especially when they do illegal stuffs) but not to those who just expressed their anger or something.
My boyfreind and I work in the same company and he is the operation manager,. Often times my BF complains about the work attitude of FIlipinos . ( and I couldnt argue more about this coz , it’s is true). And he sometimes loose his cool to our staff and tells him off ( I swear he is the most reasonable person i’ve known). One of our Filipino managers ( under him) couldnt take it and filed a complaint to BOI.
Although the case has been solved in favor o f my bF, he said he felt humillitaed and angry about how our people in the government treat them ( thought he ddint tell me what really transpired in the hearing) and it costs him a lot since he has to fly to manila for the hearing and bring his lawyer.
I really feel sorry. SOme Filipinos ( especially those who are in the middle class and ruling class) really need to be educated more about this. Some of them are narrowminded and what they knew is what they can do with their very little knowledge. THey have never thought about impact it will bring to others and to the Filipinos in general.
So i really hope , our governent officials can see this problem ( although, i have lost my faith in them) with one deportation case who knows we have already lost a potential help for the filipinos.
Hi John H – Yes, the possibility of such an easy deportation is sometimes worrisome.
Hi Justin – Insulting a Filipino who is not a “big wheel” can still result in deportation. I know, because I’ve seen it happen. It is not as likely, but it can indeed happen, and it does happen.
Hi Justin – Can’t say I agree with you, but we are all entitled to our own opinion.
Hi John – I think that for Americans, living in a foreign country can be scary. For other nationalities, though, that is not necessarily true. For example, from what I see, the British are very comfortable with living overseas. Over the decades and even centuries, Brits have lived in other countries, so it is just a normal thing for them. Americans, on the other hand, don’t live abroad too much. I find it OK, though, not too scary at all.
Hi Steven – Regarding the whole democracy issue, I have some really strong opinions on that, but I am going to choose not to share them, because some of my comments on that might be off limits for a foreigner here. I hope you understand.
When you say “it could even happen to you, Bob” – I totally agree. If I ever implied that I didn’t think it could happen to me, I was wrong, and never had any intention of saying anything like that. I am no less susceptible to that than anybody else.
Hi Justin – The way I look at it is this… right now, the Philippines is not even self-sufficient in the area of rice. A lot of rice is imported from Thailand and Vietnam. If the Chinese could come here and grow rice to export to China, that would be a net plus for the country anyway, creating jobs, bringing in money from China, etc.
Hi Justin – I personally do not believe that land ownership would have any impact on national sovereignty. If that were the case, many (most) first world nations would have lost sovereignty long ago.
Hi Justin – No, I have not read the NDF report. I will say, though, if the criteria for having lost sovereignty is that a country must consider it’s actions based on who it owe’s money to, and such, then the Philippines has long since lost all sovereignty.
Hi Kumander – Much of what you say, I agree with. However, based on what you write, you seem to have a militant side (along with your pen name). Doing things like “getting in their face” “shaming them” etc. is a recipe for quick deportation or other problems for a foreigner. It’s best to be nice, keep a relatively low profile, etc., in my opinion.
Hi Kumander – When you mentioned about the National Anthem, I thought you were talking about me! You see, about 6 to 7 years ago, Feyma and I got into trouble at the SM Cinema here in Davao. We were involved in a discussion, waiting for the movie to start. The lights were on, and there were few people there. We didn’t realize that they started playing the National Anthem, we just weren’t paying attention. Some of the theater management came to us and scolded us, threatened to kick us out! We honestly didn’t know we had done anything wrong. When Feyma was a child, her parents did not allow her to go to the movies. In the States, I had never heard of the National Anthem being played at the theater, so neither of us expected to hear it!
Hi John Miele – I agree with you fully – it’s best, as a foreigner, to just keep your mouth shut and let your wife deal with it. That said, I must admit that I don’t always follow my advice, it can be difficult to bite my tongue too hard!
Ha ha.. .that guy on the flight is so typical!
I remember when I was like that too! 
Hi Kumander – Very interesting stories! It certainly pays for any foreigner here to be careful in his actions!
Hi Steven – My server indeed is in the States. Unfortunately, under Philippine law, that is not much protection. As a matter of fact, even with my server in the States I can even get deported, sued, or put in jail for things that you say. Amazing, huh? I know a guy that has been through this, so there is not any doubt in my mind about it.
If you think that I only offer a pretty picture, you need to dig into the archives a bit more. I used to have people mad at me because of too much doom and gloom. You can’t please everybody… either I’m too gloomy, or too much of a pretty picture… even on the same post!
I call ‘em as I see ‘em. Sometimes I try to mince my words a bit, but if you read what I say, you will get my message.
Justin – you certainly lead an interesting life!
Hi Justin – I hear you… been there, done that. I’ve done some stupid things in my life myself. Glad to be past those days!
Hi David – Don’t feel to bad, I think that all foreigners who come to live here go through some hard times when we lose our temper, and such. I know that I did, and still do sometimes. All you can do is to do your best to adjust, and hold your tongue when the time calls for it. Good luck!
Hi Spencer – I think that it is a little naive to think that you can purchase protection of your life. If you befriend a politician, what will you do when the other side is elected? Move to another town? Personally, I just think that what you say is not doable.
Hi Justin – I couldn’t agree more!
Hi Junior – Merry Christmas! I’m glad that you are enjoying my sites!
Hi Ed Griffin – I’m glad that you found the information informative!
Hi Rusty – I try to be careful about the things I write. I don’t feel that I have to not say things, but rather maybe I need to say them in a way that is not too negative. I can’t be sure if one could be deported for what is written on a blog, but I don’t doubt that it could happen.
Hi Captain Todd – I know a lot of foreigners who have been deported. There are foreigners deported from the Philippines every single day – 365 days per year. Perhaps your wife never heard of it happen, but for sure, I know that it does. It is not something that most Filipinos follow. It’s kind of like – how many parking tickets were issued in your town in 2008? You probably don’t know, because it just is not important to you. Same situation with deportations. Believe me, it is a normal and regular thing.
If you become a citizen, you could never be deported, because you are no longer a foreigner.
Hi Captain Todd – To live happily in the Philippines, it’s good to keep your head low, and try to just get along even after your become a citizen!
That’s just the way that most people live here.
Hi Gary – Eleven years? You have been here long enough, I hope that you have settled into the routine now, and can live the way things are here.
I am lucky, I have never had any threat of deportation, not even talked to about it. I am certainly aware of the possibilities that it can and does happen.
I do believe that speaking the local language (what you do speak, cebuano or surigaonon?) can make you more likely to be deported. I say this because by speaking the local language you are showing people that you have been here long term, and because of that you should understand how things work here.
I wish you all the best.
Hi Yumi – Thanks for sharing your story, it is interesting to hear. I hope that your boyfriend can learn the lesson and through doing so keep his opinion a little more in check. It is something that all of us foreigners must learn to do better, I think.