Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco expressed concern over recent interceptions of foreign nationals misrepresenting as Filipino citizen.
It can be recalled that earlier this month, the BI reported intercepting a Hong Kong-Canadian national suspected to have misrepresented himself as a Filipino.
The BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) recorded two more cases of misrepresentation this month at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Apprehended at the NAIA Terminal 3 last January 17 is 35-year-old woman identified as Nong Thi Luyen. Nong attempted to depart to Vietnam via a Cebu Pacific Airways flight to Saigon.
Nong, who initially presented a Philippine passport bearing a Philippine name, raised the suspicion of immigration officers when she was unable to answer basic details about her identity.
“She later admitted during questioning that she is a Vietnamese citizen, and that she last arrived in the country almost two decades ago,” Tansingco added. “Apparently, she wanted to avoid overstaying penalties so she resorted to misrepresenting herself,” he added.
Investigation further bared that the Philippine passport presented by the passenger belonged to someone else.
Also intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 1 last January 23 was Hailan Zhang, 36, who attempted to depart the country via a Thai airways flight to Hanoi.
BI concerned over cases of foreigners misrepresenting as Filipinos
Hailan initially presented a Philippine passport, and carried identification cards and permits, claiming he was a businessman in the country.
However, the officers noted numerous inconsistencies in his statements, and he later admitted his real identity. The BI’s Forensic Documents Laboratory also certified that while his Philippine passport is genuine, it bore a fake BI departure stamp.
Both Nong and Hailan were charged for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act, and will remain at the BI’s Warden Facility in Taguig City pending their deportation.
Last month, BI officers also intercepted a Canadian man suspected to be a fake Filipino.
According to a report from Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) Acting Chief Ann Camille Mina, the subject, 49 years old, was referred by primary inspectors after attempting to depart for Taiwan via an Eva Air flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.
The foreign-looking suspect presented a Philippine passport, but raised the officer’s suspicion after he was found unable to speak Filipino or any Philippine dialect. He was likewise unable to answer basic questions about his identity.
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