PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - All seven travellers from Malaysia, who were stranded at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport after they were refused entry by the immigration authorities, have now been allowed to enter the Philippines after intervention by the Malaysian embassy.
They were earlier denied entry after their Malaysian digital Covid-19 vaccination credentials were not recognised by the Philippines authorities.
Malaysia's foreign ministry, Wisma Putra, said seven Malaysians were involved in the issue. Earlier reports mentioned 13 or 15 people who were stranded at the airport.
"Wisma Putra is pleased to inform that seven fellow Malaysians who were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been allowed to enter the Philippines, following swift action by our Malaysian Embassy in Manila. Kudos team @myembassymanila,” tweeted Malaysian Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra).
The Malaysians were refused entry after being told that the Malaysian digital vaccine certificate in their MySejahtera app was not acceptable proof of vaccination.
The affected travelers had related to the Malaysian media that their passports were confiscated and were told that they would be deported on Tuesday (Feb 15). They said they had to remain at the airport in the meantime as no hotel facilities were provided.
It was also reported that the Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines had personally met the stranded passengers at the airport, and worked on an appeal for vaccination reciprocity.
An earlier report said the passengers had arrived on the 8.30am flight from Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (Feb 13).
"Passengers that were on the flight from the KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) but were vaccinated in Singapore or the United Kingdom were granted access to the country but those vaccinated in Malaysia have been denied entry," one passenger had said when contacted on Sunday night.
"Our passports have been confiscated, and we were told that we would be deported. As there are no hotels available, we are being made to sleep on benches or the floor."
The passenger said they were told by the Philippine immigration authorities that they needed to either have been vaccinated in another country such as Singapore or possess the World Health Organisation's International Certificate of Vaccination.
Some of the passengers were in the Philippines for business, personal and humanitarian reasons.
The report said the Philippine immigration authorities had earlier insisted that the embassy must wait until Monday (Feb 14) morning to liaise with Manial's Foreign Affairs Ministry to seek approval.
The Philippines opened its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers from last Thursday (Feb 10).
