By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday reported the recent arrest of a male passenger who attempted to leave the country using a fake overseas employment certificate (OEC) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
According to a report from the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the passenger, in his 30s, was about to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong on Aug. 15 when officers flagged his documents for verification.
“He presented an OEC showing employment as an administrative officer in Hong Kong,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.
“Upon checking, it was immediately found to be fake and originally issued to another individual,” he added.
The Bureau noted that the attempt was detected through its joint system with the Department of Migrant Workers.
Authorities believed the spurious document was obtained through illegal online sellers who have been targeting aspiring overseas workers.
At the same time, Viado warned that the use of fraudulent documents not only violates immigration and labor laws, but also exposes travelers to risks of exploitation and human trafficking. (PNA)
