A female passenger was intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) on Saturday, November 11, for presenting a fake departure certificate, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the departing Filipino passenger was en route to Malta when she did not present an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), causing the immigration to conduct a secondary inspection.
BI's secondary inspection revealed that the passenger was traveling to Malta to work as a live-in caregiver carrying documents, including a Commission on Filipinos Overseas Guidance and Counseling Program (CFO-GCP) certificate that was provided by her Maltese employer.
Subsequently, Tansingco revealed that the passenger ultimately admitted getting her documents, including the forged CFO-GCP certificate, from an online contact. She admitted that she had skipped the required counseling session and had not personally applied for the CFO-GCP.
The discrepancy in requirements between first-time migrants and departing OFWs was further highlighted by the BI Chief noting that “Filipinos whose sole purpose of travel is to work overseas are required to secure OECs from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to safeguard their wellbeing abroad.
“This incident underscores the importance of exercising extreme caution when dealing with internet acquaintances. We encourage those seeking opportunities abroad to adhere to official channels and processes to avoid potential instances of human trafficking or illegal recruitment,” Tansingco stressed.
