IMMIGRATION officers recently apprehended a Canadian using a fake Philippine visa at the Clark Inter-national Airport in Pampanga.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said immigration officers intercepted Nelson John Amos, 64, last August 3 before he could board his flight to Hong Kong via an HK Express flight.
“He is now detained at our custodial facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation pro-ceedings,” Tansingco said.
Amos was apprehended after the immigration officer who processed him noticed that the Alian Certifi-cate of Registration I-Card he presented was not recognized or reflected in the BI’s automated travel control system.
Tansingco said it was found out that the holder of the passenger’s ACR I-Card number was a Korean with a different name and date of birth.
“BI anti-fraud personnel who examined the ACR I-Card and visa also certified that said documents are counterfeit,” the BI chief said, adding that Amos later admitted that he procured the fake travel docu-ments from a fixer who demanded P40,000 as processing and service fees.
“He said he received the ACR I-Card and his passport with the fake visa barely a week after he gave the money. He further insisted he was not aware that the said travel documents were counterfeit,” Tansingco added.
The incident prompted Tansingco to reiterate his warning to foreigners to be wary of fixers offering to process their documents at the BI in return for hefty fees.
He advised foreigners to transact directly at any of the BI’s 63 offices nationwide.
