The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of a male passenger at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 who attempted to leave the country using a fake overseas employment certificate (OEC). The incident occurred on August 15 as the passenger, in his 30s, was about to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong.
According to the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the passenger presented an OEC indicating employment as an administrative officer in Hong Kong. However, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that upon verification, the document was found to be fake and originally issued to another individual.
The fraudulent attempt was detected through the BI’s joint system with the Department of Migrant Workers. Authorities suspect that the counterfeit document was obtained from illegal online sellers targeting aspiring overseas workers.
Viado warned that using fraudulent documents not only violates immigration and labor laws but also exposes travelers to risks of exploitation and human trafficking.