In a letter to President Johnson Toribiong, Dulce Corazon Labarda, a tourist from the Philippines, said she was interrogated in a manner that was “discriminating and unwelcoming.”
She did not disclose the identity of the immigration officer.“Having traveled and been through different immigration procedures of some other countries, I personally find the officer’s manner of interrogating a visitor rather discriminating and unwelcoming [and this] was confirmed by his very discouraging remarks and statements toward me like, ‘Make sure you don’t do business here otherwise you will be in trouble’ — disbelieving that I came to Palau not to work but will just stay for weeklong vacation,” Labarda said.The president’s office said it is looking into the matter.Labarda said the attitude of the immigration officer is in contrast to what she had learned from the Internet about Palau.She said prior to her visit here, she was impressed with Toribiong’s plans.“I believe that the good gentlemen manning the entry point of Palau play a very vital role in giving the best impression to all visitors as regards how good this place is and how warm and accommodating the people are,” Labarda said.
