American tourist banned from Philippines after rude comments on e-Travel form

By Hoang Phong November 13, 2023 | 03:29 pm PT

Passengers queue at airline counters in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Jan. 2, 2023. Photo by Reuters

The Philippines's Bureau of Immigration on Sunday said an American tourist had been permanently banned from entering the country after filling in an e-travel form system with 'false and rude' information.

Anthony Joseph Laurence arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Nov. 7 via an Air Asia flight from Bangkok and an airport officer reminded him to fill out the e-Travel form upon arrival, The Filipino Times reported.

He initially showed his disrespect and angrily tossed his passport and mobile phone to the immigration officer.

Then, immigration officials discovered that the tourist filled in a fake address in the Philippines, and did not include his full name, as well as put 'profane words' on his form, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said as by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He was deported from the Philippines.

The e-Travel system was designed to replace paper-based arrival and departure cards and it must be filled out at least 72 hours prior to arrival in the Philippines.

So far this year, the Filipino authorities said that 44 foreigners have been banned from entering the country for disrespecting the immigration officers.