By Ferdinand Patinio

ARRESTED. Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel arrested last week two Chinese nationals for allegedly presenting fake exit clearances at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City, the BI reported on Monday (Jan. 27, 2025). The two, who were also found to be overstaying, will face deportation cases for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. (Photo courtesy of BI)

MANILA – Two Chinese men were recently arrested for allegedly presenting fake exit clearances at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Monday.

In a report to Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, BI NAIA 3 head Dennis Javier identified the two as Wang Changru, 53, and Cui Wen, 33, who were stopped from boarding a Cathay Pacific Airlines flight to Hong Kong for allegedly presenting counterfeit documents on Jan. 24.

Both were also found to be overstaying, having arrived in the country in 2019.

According to Javier, the two Chinese presented emigration clearance certificates (ECC) supposedly issued on Jan. 23 stating that they are authorized to stay in the country until February.

“The two men failed to realize that our centralized database can detect actual arrivals and verify documents presented,” he said.

The ECCs presented were later confirmed to be counterfeit, prompting BI officers to arrest the two.

The foreigners were turned over to the BI’s legal division and will face deportation cases for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. (PNA)