Just a few months back, Philippine DOTA 2 team Rave made headlines for winning fifth place in the DOTA 2 Asian Championships in China.
Now, they’re back in the news as they blame the Bureau of Immigration officials for their loss in an international DOTA competition in Incheon, South Korea, according to ABS-CBN News.
Members of team Rave– composed of Ryo “ryOyr” Hasegawa, Jio “Jeyo” Madayag, Djardel “Chrissy” Mampusti, Mark “Cast” Pilar, and Michael “nb” Ross– were unable to leave the country after they were apprehended by immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, for supposedly not being able to show an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
They were then forced to compete from the Philippines, using slow internet connection, as they reportedly did not want to lose their chance at the international tournament. High speed is important in being able to play the game at an optimal pace.
The Bureau of Immigration addressed the issue, saying that they asked for the OEC as three members of Team Rave supposedly had working visas.
POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, on the other hand, stressed through a Twitter post that Team Rave, like athletes, did not need to secure a certificate from them, according to the report.
The report also cited former immigration officer Atty. Mary Ann Ojeda-Isidro, who said that on the grounds of a competition, the E-6 visas should have been enough as they were not OFWs, and that the immigration officials were at fault for the apprehension.
Any Team Rave fans out there? What do you think of this?
