The Bureau of Immigration (BI) expressed its concern on the proliferation of fake Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) certificates.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco shared that BI officers have encountered several instances of fake CFO Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) certificates that were presented during immigration inspection.
The GCP is a required pre-departure seminar conducted by the CFO aiming to equip Filipinos in intermarriages and bi-national relationships with adequate information on the realities of cultural and social realities overseas.
The certificates purport to show that holders have attended the GCP and therefore can leave for abroad.
Tansingco shared that last June 16, officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 intercepted a female victim bound for Pudong in China after presenting a fake CFO GCP certificate.
The victim, 29 years-old, was traveling with her alleged Chinese husband.
Verification with the CFO revealed that the certificate presented was indeed fake.
It can be recalled that on May, the BI issued a warning against fake CFO certificates, after immigration officers intercepted two victims on separate occasions.
“We believe that this is an emerging trafficking trend, victimizing Filipinas to possibly work in scam call centers, as mail order brides, or as illegal surrogates,” said Tansingco. “Hence we are issuing a warning against Filipinos against this scheme,” he added.
Faking CFO certs sign of new trafficking trend
Tansingco shared that those intercepted would report acquiring their certificate through the facilitation of a fixer they met online.
“With the creation of the shared information system between the BI and the CFO, schemes like this will not be able to pass,” warned Tansingco.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has once again been recognized for its unwavering commitment in combatting trafficking by the United States government.
According to Tansingco, they have received information that the country has maintained its Tier 1 status for the eighth consecutive year in the US State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report.
The BI, as an active member of the Department of Justice (DOJ) led Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT), has played a crucial role in strengthening efforts to protect overseas Filipinos, from the threat of human trafficking and labor exploitation abroad.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.