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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI arrests Fil-Am professional basketball player over fake passport

BI arrests Fil-Am professional basketball player over fake passport

Published Dec 21, 2022 03:07 pm

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents arrested a 36-year old Filipino-American professional basketball player for allegedly using a fake Philippine passport.

In a statement, the BI said Avery Roberto Scharer was apprehended on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after an Immigration officer noticed major discrepancies and irregularities in his Philippine passport.

Scharer had just arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Canada when he presented to the immigration officer at the arrival area his American and Philippine passports.

The BI officer referred the travel document to his duty supervisor who then endorsed the same to the bureau’s forensic documents laboratory for examination.

"The forensic laboratory later issued a certification confirming its findings that the Philippine passport presented by Scharer is fraudulent," the statement read.

“Our forensic equipment confirmed the suspicion of our officers.The Philippine passport he presented contained tampered pages, including the biographical data page. His attempt to conceal these alternations cannot escape the scrutiny of our inspectors," said Tansingco.

Scharer allegedly posted on social media that he was wrongfully detained by immigration authorities upon his arrival at the NAIA, which was refuted by Tansingco.

"Posting false information on social media to gain sympathy despite the violation further manifests undesirability. There are no sacred cows, as any foreign national who have violated immigration laws and presented fake documentation will be arrested,” said Tansingco.

Scharer was later turned over to the BI legal division for inquest proceedings on charges of violating the Philippine passport act and for using a spurious immigration document. He will remain in the BI’s detention center in Bicutan, Taguig pending the resolution of his case.

It was gathered that Scharer played for various collegiate, amateur and professional basketball leagues in the US and Asia. In 2015, Scharer was drafted fifth overall by the Wang’s Basketball Couriers in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League.

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