The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has set up a new forensic document laboratory at the Clark International Airport (CIA) “to enhance the bureau’s ability to detect counterfeit documents.”
“This laboratory marks a milestone in our efforts to secure our borders,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Viado led the inauguration of the new laboratory last Nov. 27 as part of the BI’s Anti-Fraud Section.
“With these cutting-edge tools, we are ensuring that no fraudulent document goes undetected,” he said.
He also said the laboratory is equipped with advanced tools that include a Video Spectral Comparator, the IOM (International Organization Migration) Verifier, and forensic document microscopes.
Google says the IOM Verifier “is a system that helps border control officers identify fraudulent travel documents and imposters by analyzing the match between a travel document and the bearer's biometric and biographical data.”
“These technologies enable microscopic-level analysis, allowing for the identification of subtle security features and irregularities that could indicate fraud,” the BI said.