The Bureau of Immigration on Friday said it barred and blacklisted 180 foreign nationals from entering the country for being rude and disrespectful to immigration officers.

The number is higher than in 2018 when only 133 individuals were barred by the bureau. In 2017, only 129 individuals were turned back for the same reason.

The 180 foreign nationals mostly came into the country through the international airports in Manila and Cebu. Of that number 63 were from China, 23 from South Korea, 10 from the United States, 9 from Japan, 8 from Australia and 5 from United Kingdom. Four each came from Malaysia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam. Three individuals each came from Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, and Switzerland.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the foreign nationals returned to their port of origin and are now blacklisted from entering the country for being "undesirable" aliens.

The banning of foreigners on such grounds are based on a BI order issued in March 29, 2001, which provides for the exclusion of "disrespectful" foreign passengers from entering the country and the inclusion of their names in the immigration blacklist.

"We thus reiterate our warning to foreigners intending to visit the Philippines that they should refrain from exhibiting bad behavior that would make them undeserving to enter our country," Morente said.

BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina said some of the apprehended passengers were "drunk, rowdy and unruly" while being inspected by immigration officers.

"Others, although sober, were arrogant and discourteous," Medina added. "They would shout expletives, and would even make derogatory statements about Filipinos or the country."

Medina pointed out that entering the Philippines is a privilege that foreign visitors should not abuse.