In a recent crackdown on fraudulent travel documents, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully prevented two women from boarding their flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. The incidents, which occurred on separate occasions, highlight the BI’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal travel and human trafficking.
The first incident involved a 30-year-old woman who was stopped on February 4 before she could board a flight to Nagoya, Japan. She presented a Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) certificate that was quickly identified as unregistered by the BI’s system. The CFO certificate is essential for first-time Filipino immigrants.
The second case occurred on February 7, when a 34-year-old woman was intercepted before boarding a flight to Kuala Lumpur. Her overseas employment certificate (OEC) was found to be tampered with, as it was registered under a different name in the BI’s database linked with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado praised the successful integration of systems with the DMW and CFO, which he said was crucial in identifying these fraudulent documents. This integration is part of a broader initiative led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve interagency cooperation and streamline operations.
The BI’s collaboration with the DMW and CFO has not only enhanced the verification process for OFWs but also for Filipinos in intermarriages and bi-national relationships. Commissioner Viado emphasized that such interoperability is vital in preventing illegal workers and victims of human trafficking from slipping through the cracks.