Pinay lands in jail for falsifying US visa docs
CEBU CITY — A 22-year-old woman from Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, southern Cebu had desired to go to the United States.
But instead in the US, Raven Gay Sinandote Dablo found herself landing in jail.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI 7) arrested Dablo after she was caught falsifying government documents in applying for a working visa in the US Embassy in Manila.
The arrest took place on October 15 in a hotel along Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
NBI 7 regional director Renan Oliva on Tuesday, October 19, told reporters that the arrest came after the request for an investigation by the US Embassy.
“This case was initiated last March by the Department of State of US Embassy in Manila. They requested for an investigation based on the document that was in the possession of one US visa applicant,” said Oliva.
The US visa applicant turned out to be Dablo.
Oliva said that upon investigation, it was discovered that Dablo falsified three government documents namely passport, driver’s license and NBI clearance.
The three government documents were among the requirements in applying for working visa in the US.
Oliva said Dablo falsified the documents when she pretended that she was Sheny Mae Tenebroso Liza, a resident of Barili town, Cebu.
Liza’s father is a US green card holder working in a bakery in the US together with the father of the suspect.
Oliva said that while Dablo’s photo appeared in the three government documents, she used the name and other personal data of Liza.
“There was a time when Dablo went to Liza’s residence in Barili to ask permission to use the identity of Sheny Mae in applying for a working visa. Sheny Mae and her mother turned down the request and yet Dablo pushed through with her plan,” said Oliva.
The US Embassy in Manila was alarmed and later coordinated with the NBI 7 when Liza’s father claimed not knowing of her daughter’s US visa application.
“Liza’s father was surprised because he did not know that her daughter was applying for a US visa,” said Oliva.
Oliva said Dablo will be charged for violation of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 and falsification of public documents in relation to Cybercrime Prevent Act of 2012.