In a country that’s been called out for its generally iffy or non-existent customer service, disgruntled citizens have discovered that using social media is a more effective way of making people listen.
“Teacher Roselle Carreon wrote a post titled ‘What should you do when a public servant asks you to SHUT UP: SPEAK UP!’ on her Facebook page on Tuesday, Mar 25, recounting that she and her husband went to the Bureau of Immigration’s Makati extension office Monday to settle her husband’s ACR I (Alien Certificate of Registration Identity) card,” reports Tricia Aquino on InterAksyon.com.
We’re reposting the full version of Carreon’s Facebook note below (we have slightly edited the text for clarity):
What should you do when a public servant asks you to “SHUT UP”: SPEAK UP!
It was a Monday and my husband and I went to the Bureau of Immigration, Makati office. I had to pay some visa fees and the supervisor was NOT RESPECTFUL AT ALL. We were asking him about the ACR I -card without my husband personally claiming that ID since he will be leaving the country before they even release it. My husband was asking CARLO SALAZAR properly if I can just claim it as his wife without any letter of authorization and he stood up and said “SHUT UP. Kailangan paulit ulit ang tanong diba inexplain ko na! Why didn’t you tell your husband?” Everybody in that small room heard him. He was so rude. Even his co-workers were surprised but they just looked at me and then looked down. Nobody wanted to stop his temper. Even the eldest man in the room who appears to be a lawyer or maybe somebody with position didn’t say a word.
When we told him that his behavior was inappropriate and that he shouldn’t say that to his clients he just said, “I CAN SAY SHUT UP TO ANYBODY IF I WANT TO!” I was so shocked. This is how the government, specifically a Bureau of Immigration official, treats the people, both foreign and local.
Then my husband asked for his name but instead of giving us his name he stood up and said “CAN I HAVE YOUR PASSPORT” (while getting my husband’s passport from another person who is assisting in the release of documents) then he went straight to the photocopy machine and he was trying to copy the pages of my husband’s passport. For what reason? I don’t know, but seems like he is showing his authority and power over us. When he cannot copy the document because the machine was not working well he asked somebody else to do it for him and he sat down on his chair. He did not give his name so I asked another employee for his name. He kept humiliating me in Tagalog while he was copying my husband’s paper “Paulit ulit ang tanong diba nasagot na bakit di mo inexplain sa asawa mo kailangan ba paulit ulit???” He said this TWICE. He was so furious at us and did not even realize he was yelling for everyone to hear including foreigners! The foreigners around even asked me, “Why is he like this? Why are they making it hard all the time for us?” Imagine the disgrace this government employee is bringing not only to his department but to OUR COUNTRY.
There were many foreigners that time also complaining about the fees and they asked me, “Why do they charge express fees but I don’t really get an express service?” One foreigner even told the woman in window 1, “Why can’t you explain what these fees are for and you keep getting more money from me?” The cashier just kept silent while CARLO SALAZAR was being a disrespectful and ill-mannered public servant for the whole international audience to witness.
We left that office with his name written on a page of a photocopied list of rules that we must follow in claiming that ID. Yes, he told his assistant to photocopy that page for us to know the rules so we won’t ask him again. This action just showed how much he hated explaining and giving the information that most people especially foreigners don’t know about our complicated system!
We left the office to look for a higher authority where we can file a complaint against Carlo Salazar’s unacceptable behavior. I asked others where can I go or who the supervisor is and I was shocked again because they pointed me to him. “He is the supervisor, the one with the glasses named Carlo.” So this explains why nobody can ever complain about this person.
I tried to contact the Civil Service Commission. They gave me a bunch of numbers which never answered. They kept passing me to somebody else. Finally a recorded voice answered me by giving me the website where I can file my complaint: www.contactcenterngbayan.gov.ph and it says that I will get a response after 48 hours. For the meantime, I cannot sit back and relax for 48 hours, maybe if I am lucky I will get an answer.
I wrote this article to exercise my right as a citizen of this country and to expose the wrongdoings of this particular government employee whom we regard as a PUBLIC SERVANT. As long as there are people like him who do not serve sincerely and respectfully then the title: PUBLIC SERVANT will have no meaning.
I’m sure many of us have experienced this in one way or another, but we cannot expect change if we won’t take action. These abusive and ill-mannered employees or officials will be a disgrace in our government if we will just, (like what Carlo Salazar ordered us to do)—SHUT UP!
Julian Gregory McDermott Jr. says
According to my business partner who witnessed the incident, it was the Filipino woman Roselle Carreon and her foreigner husband who persistently urged the entire office if they could skip a requirement.
When told repeatedly that this could not be allowed, the husband lost his temper and shouted at an immigration staff. With my extensive experiences with immigration offices in other countries, if anyone did what they did to the BI staffer here, they would get their asses deported immediately.
Why the couple would want to skip an immigration procedure is anyone's guess. If you have nothing to hide, you won't have to skip anything.
I am a foreigner who respects the laws of every nation I do business in, even if sometimes the bureaucracy can be tedious. I know my place as a guest of a country. I am deeply bothered when other foreigners demand special treatment, as if their host country owed them a favor.
Julian Gregory McDermott Jr. says
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison:
I have been in and out of the Philippines for almost ten years. Among the several countries in Asia, I have learned to love this country mainly because business has been good here, and I have many good-humored, creative and outspoken Filipino business associates. There are plenty of things to admire about the Philippines.
However, being a businessman, I am deeply bothered by how mob rule, in the form of the social media is becoming the norm here. What happened at the immigration bureau is an example of such. A business partner of mine was at the BI Makati office when the actual incident transpired.
According to my partner, it was the Filipino woman Roselle Carreon and her foreigner husband who persistently urged the entire office if they could skip a requirement.
When told repeatedly that this could not be allowed, the husband lost his temper and shouted at an immigration staff. With my extensive experiences with immigration offices in other countries, if anyone did what they did to the BI staffer here, they would get their asses deported immediately.
Why the couple would want to skip an immigration procedure is anyone's guess. If you have nothing to hide, you won't have to skip anything.
I now ask the Filipino people to check the facts first, and uphold the rule of the law. It is unfortunate that many in the social media would draw their conclusions from a one-sided narrative, and I am surprised that even high government officials would be swayed by the demands of the unruly mob.
A one-sided Facebook rant is not the whole truth, and that is a fact. Where is the rule of law that states the accused is innocent until proven guilty? Filipinos, you can do more than that.
I am a foreigner who respects the laws of every nation I do business in, even if sometimes the bureaucracy can be tedious. I know my place as a guest of a country. I am deeply bothered when other foreigners demand special treatment, as if their host country owed them a favor.
mrexpose says
Sinearch ko yung Carlo Magno Salazar and kasama siya sa group ng BI.
Best man siya sa isang kasal and inattached ko yung picture niya.
Ito kaya siya?
people of cebu says
we will support you for your action. that ignorant Carlo Salazar from BI should be oust. hindi lang yan ignorante, for sure magnanakaw din yan. kagaya lang yan ng naglagay sa kanya sa position. nakakahiya ka Carlo Salazar. tyak kinahihiya ka rin ng yung pamilya. Carlo Salazar isa kang demonyo.
Craig A Matous says
binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph doesnt work
Craig A Matous says
I see my post was deleted…
Melissa Bumal-o says
It's the Filipino people who is paying for his salary. He doesn't have the right to act this way. He should be kicked out from his position and don't work as a Government official anymore
Julie Julia says
file a formal complaint containing the details of the incident addressed to the Honorable Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison. You may send it at his official email address 1) binoc_immigration@hotmail.ph 2) xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
You may also deliver your complaint personally and have it received at the Bureau’s Central Receiving Section.
Hamad Marohombsar Galo says
i think this is him..
https://www.facebook.com/carlomagno.r.salazar?fref=ts&ref=br_tf
Joey S. Manalang says
Such a shame Philippine public servants act that way. Had an experience with them as well at NAIA 1 and at Terminal 3, they are very rude, ill-mannered, boastful. The Philippine government should investigate this matter and have them compelled with disciplinary actions, much better have them removed from their post. They don't deserve the post they have. Government officials and other public servants should always be at their best etiquettes, behaviour and public service should be delivered in a manner where people will compliment them instead of complaining them. Honestly, I've been to many countries and comparing the way those countries served me, totally different. They are very polite, they will explain everything to you even a hundred times without complain nor showing of irritability or being annoyed. These people should be eradicated coz they are a huge disgrace and a total humiliation to our Nation.
Gilbert Damaso says
We ought to eradicated these kinds of employees from the government. Mr. Salazar thinks he is above everyone else. Who will discipline him? We will never know. I guess the gov't our gov't tolerate these kind of behavior. GOD HELP US