Introduction

In the Philippines, the admission, exclusion, and removal of foreign nationals are governed primarily by immigration law, national security policy, public safety considerations, and executive control over the country’s borders. A foreigner with a criminal record does not automatically lose all possibility of entering the Philippines, but criminal history is one of the most important factors considered by immigration authorities when deciding whether to admit, exclude, detain, cancel status, or deport a non-citizen.

The governing framework is not limited to one rule. It operates through a combination of the Philippine Immigration Act, administrative regulations of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), blacklist and watchlist mechanisms, visa rules, airport inspection authority, deportation rules, extradition law, anti-trafficking and child protection laws, anti-terror and public safety laws, and the President’s broad power over foreign relations and border control. In practice, the Philippines treats entry into the country as a privilege, not a right, for non-citizens. Because of this, even a foreigner who appears technically visa-eligible may still be refused entry if immigration authorities conclude that the person is undesirable, poses a risk, made misrepresentations, or falls within a prohibited class.

This article explains the Philippine legal treatment of foreigners with criminal records, including admission rules, grounds for exclusion, visa consequences, blacklisting, deportation, waiver issues, due process concerns, and practical legal consequences.

I. Governing Legal Framework in the Philippines

The topic is mainly governed by the following legal sources:

Commonwealth Act No. 613, or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended. This remains the core immigration statute and contains provisions on admission, exclusion, deportation, documentation, and the powers of immigration authorities.
Rules, regulations, operations orders, memoranda, and issuances of the Bureau of Immigration. These govern implementation, blacklisting, watchlisting, derogatory records checking, arrival inspection, visa status control, and deportation procedure.
Visa rules issued through executive and administrative practice, including those affecting temporary visitors, immigrant categories, special non-immigrant categories, and restricted nationals.
Special penal and protective laws, such as laws on trafficking, child exploitation, terrorism, dangerous drugs, money laundering, sexual offenses, violence, fraud, and transnational crime. Even where these laws do not directly regulate entry, they shape whether a foreigner is viewed as inadmissible or undesirable.
Extradition law and treaty practice, where a foreigner is wanted abroad and Philippine authorities coordinate with the requesting state.
Constitutional due process principles, which do not give foreigners an absolute right to enter, but do affect detention, deportation proceedings, and administrative fairness once the person is within Philippine jurisdiction.

II. Basic Principle: Admission of Foreigners Is Discretionary

A central principle of Philippine immigration law is that a foreign national has no vested right to enter the Philippines merely because the person holds a passport, a visa, or belongs to a visa-free nationality. Border admission is always subject to inspection and approval by Philippine immigration authorities.

This matters greatly for foreigners with criminal records. Even when a conviction is old, minor, expunged in another jurisdiction, or followed by rehabilitation, Philippine authorities may still evaluate it as relevant to admissibility. The legal analysis is not confined to whether the foreigner has completed sentence. Immigration law focuses on fitness for admission, public safety, credibility, and risk to the community.

As a result, a person with a criminal record may face one or more of the following:

denial of visa issuance,
refusal of boarding where pre-clearance or carrier screening is involved,
secondary inspection on arrival,
exclusion at the port of entry,
detention pending exclusion or return,
blacklisting,
visa cancellation,
deportation if already admitted,
long-term or permanent bar from re-entry.

III. What Counts as a “Criminal Record” for Philippine Immigration Purposes

For immigration purposes, the concept is broader than a final prison sentence. Authorities may take into account:

final convictions,
pending criminal cases,
outstanding warrants,
admissions of criminal conduct,
law enforcement alerts,
Interpol information or foreign government advisories,
prior deportation or exclusion records from other countries,
sex offender registration status,
organized crime links,
terrorism or extremist associations,
drug trafficking or financial crime indicators,
misrepresentation in prior visa applications,
human trafficking or child protection concerns.

In practice, a “record” may arise from judicial, police, immigration, intelligence, or consular sources. Philippine authorities are not limited to what appears on a certificate of conviction. They may rely on derogatory information from partner agencies, foreign governments, or internal immigration databases.

IV. Grounds on Which Foreigners with Criminal Records May Be Denied Entry

Under Philippine immigration law and practice, several grounds can be invoked to prevent the admission of a foreigner with criminal history.

A. Persons Convicted of Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude

One of the classic immigration concepts is the exclusion of persons convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. While the term is not always easy to define, it generally refers to conduct that is inherently base, vile, fraudulent, dishonest, or contrary to accepted moral standards.

Examples commonly associated with moral turpitude include:

fraud,
estafa,
theft-related offenses,
certain sexual offenses,
serious violence,
crimes involving intentional dishonesty,
corruption-related acts,
some forms of child exploitation.

Not every criminal conviction is necessarily a crime involving moral turpitude. Regulatory and technical offenses, some traffic offenses, and some negligent acts may fall outside that category. Still, Philippine immigration authorities tend to treat crimes showing dishonesty, predation, violence, or grave social harm as especially significant.

A conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude can support exclusion, visa denial, blacklisting, or deportation.

B. Persons Deemed Undesirable or Dangerous

Even apart from a technical conviction category, a foreigner may be refused entry as an undesirable alien or as a person whose presence would threaten:

public safety,
public health,
national security,
public morals,
peace and order.

This ground is broad and powerful. A foreigner with a history of violent crime, drug trafficking, organized crime involvement, sexual exploitation, repeat offending, or transnational fraud may be excluded even if some documents appear facially regular.

C. Persons with Contagious, Public Charge, or Vagrancy-Linked Grounds

Historically, immigration statutes also included exclusion grounds related to becoming a public charge, vagrancy, or public health concerns. While these are not “criminal record” grounds in themselves, a foreigner with criminal and social instability indicators may be assessed under overlapping public welfare rationales.

D. Persons Who Misrepresent Their Record

A foreigner who lies about prior convictions or arrests may face a separate and often stronger immigration consequence than the underlying crime itself. Misrepresentation can justify:

visa denial,
exclusion,
blacklisting,
cancellation of status,
deportation.

In immigration law, concealment is often treated as proof of bad faith and untrustworthiness. Even where the original conviction might have been arguable, lying about it usually worsens the case.

E. Persons on Blacklist or Watchlist Orders

The Bureau of Immigration maintains systems for persons whose entry is disallowed or whose movements are monitored. A foreigner with a criminal record may already have been placed on a blacklist order, whether because of prior immigration violations, criminal derogatory records, prior deportation, or agency request. Entry is then typically denied at the port.

A watchlist may not always mean automatic exclusion, but it often triggers secondary inspection, delay, verification, or later enforcement action.

F. Persons Wanted Abroad or Subject to International Alerts

A foreigner with an outstanding warrant, extradition request, or international law enforcement notice may be refused entry or detained depending on the legal posture of the case and the instructions received by Philippine authorities.

V. Visa-Free Entry Does Not Override Criminal Inadmissibility

Many foreign nationals can enter the Philippines for short visits without first obtaining a visa. This sometimes creates the mistaken belief that a foreigner with a criminal record can simply arrive and rely on visa-free admission.

That is incorrect.

Visa-free travel only excuses the need to obtain a visa in advance. It does not eliminate the legal requirement that the traveler be admissible. At the airport or seaport, the Bureau of Immigration may still:

inspect the traveler,
review alerts or derogatory records,
ask questions on criminal history,
examine return tickets and onward travel,
review prior immigration history,
refuse entry and order immediate return.

Thus, a foreigner with a criminal record can be denied even when coming from a visa-free country.

VI. Visa Applications and Disclosure of Criminal History

Where a visa is required, criminal history becomes relevant even before travel. Depending on the visa class and application process, consular or immigration authorities may require the applicant to disclose:

past convictions,
pending criminal charges,
prior deportations,
prison history,
law enforcement investigations,
prior immigration fraud,
aliases or alternate identities.

A negative record does not always produce automatic denial, but it places the applicant under heightened scrutiny. The authorities may consider:

seriousness of the offense,
recency,
pattern or repeat history,
sentence imposed,
evidence of rehabilitation,
connection to organized crime or trafficking,
truthfulness of disclosure,
intended purpose of travel,
Philippine sponsor, if any,
risk to the public.

For long-term statuses, resident visas, special non-immigrant arrangements, and status conversions inside the Philippines, criminal history is usually even more important.

VII. Arrests, Charges, and Convictions: The Distinction Matters, but Not Always Enough

Philippine immigration authorities may distinguish among:

mere suspicion,
arrest without prosecution,
pending charge,
conviction not yet final,
final conviction,
pardon, expungement, or set-aside abroad.

Legally, a final conviction is stronger evidence than an arrest. Still, in immigration practice, arrests and pending charges can still matter if they indicate danger, fraud, or undesirability. The Philippines is not required to admit a foreigner simply because a foreign case has not yet matured into final judgment.

Likewise, a foreign pardon or expungement does not necessarily bind Philippine immigration authorities in the same way it binds the issuing state’s domestic system. They may still consider the underlying conduct, especially where public safety is involved.

VIII. Nature of Offenses Most Likely to Trigger Exclusion

Not all criminal records are treated equally. The following categories are among the most problematic under Philippine immigration law and enforcement practice:

A. Drug Offenses

Drug trafficking, importation, distribution, production, and organized drug-related conduct are treated with extreme seriousness. A foreigner with such a record may face exclusion, blacklisting, deportation, and close law enforcement coordination.

Even drug possession convictions can create serious problems, particularly if recent or repeated.

B. Sexual Offenses

Sex crimes, especially those involving minors, exploitation, coercion, or pornography, are among the strongest grounds for exclusion or blacklisting. The Philippines has a strong public policy against child sexual exploitation, trafficking, and sex tourism. Foreign nationals linked to such conduct are especially vulnerable to denial of entry, deportation, or criminal prosecution if conduct occurs locally.

C. Human Trafficking and Smuggling

A record involving trafficking, unlawful recruitment, migrant exploitation, or smuggling is highly disqualifying. Even association with trafficking networks may be enough to invite exclusion or blacklist action.

D. Violent Crimes

Murder, homicide, rape, serious assault, domestic violence, kidnapping, armed robbery, gang-related violence, and weapons-based crimes create severe admissibility concerns.

E. Fraud and Financial Crimes

Estafa-type conduct, wire fraud, identity theft, cyber fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, corruption, and organized financial scams are viewed seriously because they signal moral turpitude and community danger.

F. Terrorism, Extremism, and National Security Offenses

Any link to terrorism, violent extremism, insurgency financing, or acts threatening national security can lead to exclusion, watchlisting, detention, or more severe state action.

IX. Airport Inspection and Secondary Questioning

A foreigner with a criminal record may not know in advance whether Philippine authorities have access to the record. In practice, some are admitted without incident, while others are intercepted immediately upon arrival. This depends on intelligence-sharing, document review, pre-existing alerts, travel pattern analysis, and in-person inspection.

At the port of entry, immigration officers may ask about:

purpose of travel,
length of stay,
places to be visited,
financial support,
previous entries,
prior overstays,
criminal record,
prior deportations,
sponsor or local contact,
profession and background.

If concerns arise, the traveler may be sent to secondary inspection. There, officers may conduct deeper database checks, interview the traveler further, inspect documents, coordinate with supervisors, and determine whether the traveler should be admitted, deferred, or excluded.

A traveler found inadmissible may be placed on the next available return flight or otherwise removed from the port under exclusion procedures.

X. Blacklisting in the Philippines

Blacklisting is one of the most important practical tools used against foreigners with criminal records.

A. What Blacklisting Does

A blacklist order generally bars the foreigner from entering the Philippines. Depending on the order and reason, it can be temporary, indefinite, or effectively permanent until formally lifted.

B. Common Reasons for Blacklisting

A foreigner may be blacklisted because of:

prior deportation,
overstaying combined with derogatory conduct,
criminal conviction,
fraud or misrepresentation,
undesirable alien classification,
inclusion on request of law enforcement or another government agency,
sex offense or child protection concerns,
threats to public safety or national security.

C. Effect of Prior Deportation

A foreigner who has already been deported from the Philippines typically cannot simply return later using a new visa or passport. Deportation often leads to blacklist consequences, making re-entry unlawful unless the blacklist is lifted through proper administrative process.

D. Lifting a Blacklist

In some cases, a foreigner may seek lifting or reconsideration, but success depends on the seriousness of the underlying ground. Relief is far less likely in cases involving violence, trafficking, child exploitation, serious fraud, drugs, or national security issues.

XI. Deportation of Foreigners Already in the Philippines

A foreigner with a criminal record may be admitted initially, then later become subject to deportation if authorities discover derogatory information or if the person commits crimes while in the Philippines.

A. Grounds for Deportation

Grounds may include:

violation of immigration laws,
conviction of offenses that make the person undesirable,
fraud in obtaining admission or visa status,
overstaying plus aggravating circumstances,
engaging in prohibited activities inconsistent with visa status,
moral turpitude-related offenses,
threats to public safety, morals, or national interest.

B. Deportation Process

Deportation is generally administrative, not merely automatic. The foreigner may face:

issuance of a charge sheet or equivalent initiation,
detention or monitoring,
hearing or opportunity to respond,
submission of evidence,
recommendation and decision by immigration authorities,
implementation of removal,
inclusion in blacklist after deportation.

C. Due Process Rights

Foreigners already inside the Philippines are entitled to a measure of administrative due process. This does not mean they have the same rights as citizens in all contexts, but it usually includes notice of charges and an opportunity to be heard before final administrative deportation, unless immediate exclusion at the border is involved.

D. Detention Pending Deportation

A foreign national may be detained while deportation is pending, especially where:

identity is disputed,
the person is a flight risk,
public safety concerns exist,
travel documents are unavailable,
the receiving country must still accept the person.

XII. Exclusion vs. Deportation: The Legal Difference

This distinction is important.

Exclusion

Exclusion applies to a foreigner who is treated as not properly admitted into the Philippines. This typically happens at the port of entry. The person is refused entry and returned.

Deportation

Deportation applies to a foreigner who has already entered or has been admitted, but later becomes removable because of disqualifying conduct, criminality, fraud, immigration violations, or undesirability.

A foreigner with a criminal record may face either one, depending on when the issue is discovered.

XIII. Overstay, Criminality, and Aggravated Immigration Consequences

Overstaying alone is already an immigration violation. When combined with criminal history, it becomes more serious. A foreigner who overstays and is later found to have criminal derogatory records may face:

fines and penalties,
detention,
deportation,
blacklisting,
difficulty obtaining clearances or regularizing status.

The Philippine system is especially unfavorable to foreigners who both violate status rules and conceal material facts.

XIV. Marriage to a Filipino Does Not Erase Criminal Inadmissibility

A common misunderstanding is that marriage to a Filipino citizen cures all immigration problems. It does not.

Marriage may support an application for certain visa or residence benefits, but it does not compel the Philippines to admit or retain a foreign spouse who is:

criminally inadmissible,
blacklisted,
undesirable,
fraudulent,
a threat to public safety,
under deportation order.

Family ties can be relevant in mitigation, but they do not guarantee admission.

XV. Resident, Immigrant, and Long-Term Visa Issues

Foreigners with criminal records face higher barriers in applying for:

immigrant visas,
resident visas,
retirement-based status,
special resident status,
status conversion from tourist to long-term category.

Long-term statuses usually invite more detailed screening than brief visitor admission. Authorities may require police clearance, court documents, or other proof regarding criminal history. Even where the law does not expressly impose automatic disqualification for every offense, the applicant may still be denied on discretionary or undesirability grounds.

XVI. Special Concern: Foreign Sex Offenders and Child Protection Policy

The Philippines has long taken a severe stance against foreign nationals involved in child exploitation, sexual abuse, online abuse, and sex tourism. A foreigner with a record for sexual offenses, especially against minors, faces some of the strongest grounds for denial of entry, surveillance, blacklisting, and deportation.

This area intersects with criminal law, immigration law, cybercrime enforcement, anti-trafficking policy, and child protection policy. Even absent a local Philippine conviction, a foreign sex offense history may be enough to trigger exclusion or blacklist consequences because the state may classify the person as a danger to public morals and safety.

XVII. Human Rights and Due Process Limits

Although immigration control is broad, it is not theoretically limitless.

A. No Absolute Right of Entry for Foreigners

A non-citizen generally cannot insist on admission as a constitutional right.

B. Administrative Fairness for Those Already Under Philippine Jurisdiction

Once detained, charged administratively, or made subject to deportation, a foreigner is ordinarily entitled to at least basic due process. This includes fairness in notice, hearing, and decision-making.

C. Judicial Review

In some situations, immigration actions may be challenged through the courts, especially where there is grave abuse, lack of jurisdiction, denial of due process, unlawful detention, or improper interpretation of law. However, courts generally give substantial deference to immigration and executive authorities on admission and exclusion questions.

XVIII. Foreign Judgments, Pardons, and Expungements

A difficult issue arises when the criminal record was altered or mitigated abroad.

A. Foreign Pardon

A pardon from the foreign state may help as evidence of rehabilitation, but it does not automatically compel Philippine admission.

B. Expungement or Record Sealing

Expungement abroad may reduce what appears on ordinary background checks, but Philippine authorities may still consider available intelligence, underlying facts, or prior immigration disclosures.

C. Juvenile Adjudications

Juvenile matters may be treated more carefully, especially where the offense was remote and rehabilitation is strong. Still, if the conduct was serious, authorities may still view it as derogatory.

D. Vacated Convictions

A conviction vacated for substantive innocence may be more favorable than one vacated for technical reasons. Immigration authorities may look to the actual reason the conviction was set aside.

XIX. Misrepresentation and Fraud as Independent Immigration Offenses

For many foreigners with criminal records, the decisive issue is not just the record itself but the lie told about it.

Misrepresentation may occur by:

checking “no” to criminal history questions despite a conviction,
using a different identity,
concealing prior deportation,
presenting altered court documents,
omitting a pending criminal case,
denying prior exclusion from another country.

Under Philippine immigration principles, fraud and concealment can independently justify exclusion, cancellation, blacklisting, or deportation. In some cases, misrepresentation is harder to overcome than an old offense honestly disclosed.

XX. Practical Effect of Police Clearances and Foreign Background Certificates

A clean police clearance from another country does not always settle the matter. Reasons include:

it may only cover one jurisdiction,
it may exclude old or sealed cases,
it may not reflect intelligence or immigration data,
it may not capture offenses in another country,
Philippine authorities may rely on other data sources.

Thus, a foreigner cannot safely assume that presenting one favorable certificate eliminates immigration risk.

XXI. Rehabilitation: Does It Matter?

Yes, but within limits.

Philippine authorities may consider rehabilitation in a discretionary assessment, especially where:

the offense was remote in time,
there has been no repeat conduct,
it was a single non-violent offense,
the person has stable family and employment history,
the person disclosed the matter honestly,
strong documentary proof exists,
no blacklist order is in force.

But rehabilitation is far less persuasive in cases involving:

child exploitation,
sexual violence,
human trafficking,
major drug offenses,
organized crime,
terrorism,
repeated fraud,
repeat violent offending.

In those categories, public safety and undesirability typically outweigh rehabilitation arguments.

XXII. Can a Foreigner with a Criminal Record Still Enter the Philippines?

Legally and practically, the answer is: sometimes, but not safely assumed.

A foreigner may still be admitted if:

the offense was minor,
not one involving moral turpitude,
very old,
isolated,
fully disclosed,
not connected to danger or fraud,
not subject to blacklist,
not visible in derogatory databases,
and the immigration officer is satisfied there is no inadmissibility ground requiring exclusion.

But there is no guaranteed formula. Philippine immigration law gives authorities broad discretion, and the closer the case is to violence, dishonesty, sexual misconduct, drugs, trafficking, or repeated offending, the lower the chance of lawful and stable admission.

XXIII. Can a Foreigner Be Denied Entry Even Without Conviction?

Yes.

Philippine immigration authorities may deny entry based on broader grounds than final conviction alone, including:

undesirable alien classification,
public safety concerns,
pending serious charges,
active warrants,
credible foreign derogatory information,
prior immigration fraud,
watchlist or blacklist records,
suspicious travel pattern and false statements.

This reflects the preventive nature of border control.

XXIV. Can the Philippines Deport a Foreigner After Local Criminal Conviction?

Yes. A foreigner convicted in the Philippines may face both:

the criminal sentence imposed by the courts, and
separate immigration consequences, including deportation after service of sentence or even other status-related measures where allowed.

Conviction in the Philippines is a strong basis for later deportation, especially for crimes involving moral turpitude, drugs, violence, fraud, public scandal, child abuse, or threats to peace and order.

XXV. Interaction with Extradition

Where the foreigner is wanted abroad, Philippine authorities may face overlapping issues:

whether to admit or exclude the person,
whether the person is already inside the country,
whether extradition proceedings will be initiated,
whether deportation or extradition should occur first.

Extradition and deportation are distinct mechanisms. Extradition is treaty-based surrender to another state for prosecution or punishment. Deportation is an immigration removal act. A foreigner with a criminal record may become subject to one or both depending on the circumstances.

XXVI. Typical Scenarios

Scenario 1: Old Minor Conviction, Honest Disclosure

A foreign national has a single decades-old minor non-violent conviction and discloses it truthfully. Admission is still discretionary, but the person may have a better chance than someone who conceals the record.

Scenario 2: Fraud Conviction and Hidden Record

A traveler from a visa-free country arrives as a tourist but fails to disclose a prior fraud conviction. If discovered, the traveler may be refused entry for both the conviction and misrepresentation.

Scenario 3: Prior Deportation from the Philippines

A former overstayer or deportee attempts re-entry. The likely issue is not only the prior violation but the blacklist consequence, which usually blocks lawful return absent formal lifting.

Scenario 4: Sex Offender Seeking Tourist Entry

A foreign national with a record involving minors or exploitation is highly vulnerable to exclusion, blacklist confirmation, or referral to law enforcement coordination.

Scenario 5: Resident Visa Applicant with Criminal History

Even if already married to a Filipino or eligible under another status route, the applicant may still be denied due to undesirability, false declarations, or moral turpitude-related concerns.

XXVII. Common Misconceptions

“My sentence is finished, so immigration cannot use it.”

False. Immigration consequences often continue long after criminal punishment ends.

“My offense was expunged, so I no longer have to disclose it.”

Dangerous assumption. Depending on the form and legal context, nondisclosure can become misrepresentation.

“I’m from a visa-free country, so they cannot ask about criminal history.”

False. Visa-free status does not remove admissibility screening.

“I am married to a Filipino, so I cannot be excluded.”

False. Marriage does not erase inadmissibility or blacklist problems.

“Only convictions in the Philippines matter.”

False. Foreign convictions and foreign derogatory records may be used.

“No conviction means no problem.”

False. Pending charges, warrants, intelligence alerts, and undesirable status can still matter.

XXVIII. Enforcement Reality: Law on the Books and Law in Practice

In practice, enforcement can vary. Some foreigners with old records are admitted without issue, while others are intercepted immediately. That is because the actual outcome depends on:

whether the BI has access to the information,
whether the person is blacklisted,
how the offense is classified,
whether the traveler is truthful,
the officer’s assessment,
current enforcement priorities,
coordination with foreign authorities,
public safety sensitivity of the offense.

This variability should not be mistaken for legal safety. A person admitted once may still be denied on a later trip if new information appears in the system.

XXIX. Legal Consequences of Attempted Entry Despite Inadmissibility

A foreigner who attempts entry despite a serious criminal disqualification may face:

refusal of admission,
detention at the port,
expedited return on a carrier,
recording of adverse immigration history,
blacklisting,
heightened scrutiny on future travel,
possible referral to other enforcement agencies.

Where forged documents, false statements, or other offenses are involved, separate liability may also arise.

XXX. Conclusion

Under Philippine law, foreigners with criminal records occupy a legally vulnerable position in relation to entry, stay, and status. The Philippines maintains broad sovereign authority to exclude or remove non-citizens whose criminal history suggests moral turpitude, dishonesty, violence, exploitation, organized criminality, drug involvement, threats to public safety, or general undesirability. The law does not require a generous or automatic second chance at the border.

The most important points are these:

entry into the Philippines is a privilege, not a right, for foreigners;
criminal history can affect both visa issuance and airport admission;
crimes involving moral turpitude are especially serious;
sex offenses, drug crimes, trafficking, violence, terrorism, and fraud create the highest immigration risk;
concealment or lying about criminal history often creates an additional ground of exclusion;
blacklisting and deportation are major enforcement mechanisms;
marriage to a Filipino or visa-free nationality does not cure inadmissibility;
a foreign conviction, pending charge, or derogatory record may still matter even if the offense occurred abroad;
rehabilitation can help in marginal cases, but it does not eliminate state discretion;
once deported or blacklisted, re-entry is generally barred unless formally lifted.

In Philippine immigration law, the decisive question is not only whether a foreigner committed a crime, but whether the Philippine state is willing to allow that person through its borders or to continue staying within them. On that question, the law gives immigration authorities very wide power.