THE Bureau of Immigration yesterday reminded foreigners traveling to the Philippines not to deal with or get the services of fixers in updating their travel documents to avoid problems during their stay in the country.
Immigration spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval reiterated the warning after a representative of a Senegalese national was apprehended by authorities after he presented a fake passport and border stamp arrival when he applied for an extension of his tourist visa early this month.
Aside from the Senegalese, the BI also arrested on April 11 a South Korean national after he presented a fake Philippine passport at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while trying to depart the country.
Last month, a Chinese national was also collared by immigration operatives at the NAIA for attempting to pass as a Mexican national while trying to board his flight.
In January and February, immigration officers at NAIA likewise apprehended a Chinese and a Vietnamese national for presenting fake Philippine passports.
“It seems there is a syndicate targeting foreign nationals and giving them fake documents. To all foreigners, don’t get the services of fixers. Get your documents from your embassies or consulates directly,” Sandoval told the Laging Handa public briefing.
She said that aside from charges of violation of the country’s immigration laws, foreigners are also risking deportation and inclusion in the immigration blacklist if they are caught using forged documents.
“They will be held liable for it. It is an offense that might get you deported. It is also a violation of Philippine immigration laws, and it will also warrant your inclusion in the immigration’s blacklist,” Sandoval added.
Earlier, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco ordered an investigation on how foreigners manage to acquire fake Philippine passports.
“There have been many instances in the past of foreign nationals obtaining Philippine documents through misrepresentation and illegal means that have been stopped by our alert officers,” Tansingco said.
