Two Filipinas and their "fake" Chinese husbands were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before they could board their flight to Xiamen, China last April 23, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday, April 25.

The BI said the two women, whose names were withheld, initially claimed that they were going to China to visit the families of their "husbands."

However, one of the women presented a marriage certificate from a civil registrar but admitted that “she did not sign any marriage document and that no ceremony took place," it said. 

“She stated that she was merely asked to provide her birth certificate, and their supposed marriage documents were just processed by a friend,” it also said.

In the case of the other Filipina, the BI said she presented a 2023 Philippine Statistics Authority marriage certificate with an apostille certification.  

“However, the victim admitted that the certificate was merely processed by her husband through an agent, and no such wedding took place,” it said.   

Commissioner Norman Tansingco said: "We have noticed that there is a trend that women hailing form provinces who are less familiar with procedures are the main targets of this modus."

“Previous repatriations show that victims are made to work in the household without remuneration,” he said.