Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of a male passenger at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The passenger was apprehended for attempting to leave the country using a falsified overseas employment certificate (OEC).
According to Philippines News Agency, the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) flagged the passenger’s documents for verification as he was about to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong on August 15. The passenger, in his 30s, presented an OEC claiming employment as an administrative officer in Hong Kong.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that upon inspection, the certificate was found to be fake and originally issued to a different individual. The Bureau identified the forged document utilizing its joint system with the Department of Migrant Workers, which aims to prevent such illegal activities.
Authorities suspect that the fraudulent document was acquired through illegal online sellers targeting aspiring overseas workers. Commissioner Viado issued a warning that the use of counterfeit documents not only breaches immigration and labor laws but also exposes individuals to risks of exploitation and human trafficking.