Two Filipinas, who tried to take advantage of the onslaught of typhoon "Carina," were barred from leaving the country after immigration officers discovered their "fake marriages" to Chinese nationals.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the two women, whose identities have been withheld in compliance with anti-trafficking laws, were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 and at the Mactan International Airport (MCIA) last July 23 and 24.
“Wala tayong nakitang mabuting resulta nito (There has been no good results from this scheme),” warned Tansingco.
“Those who were victimized end up penniless, enslaved without pay by their pseudo partners,” he stressed.
Tansingco advised Filipinos anew to protect themselves “by making sure that they work abroad only through legal means.”
The BI said one of the Filipinas, who is only 20 years old, was prevented from leaving the country along with her Chinese companion who was posing as her husband.
It said the "pseudo couple" was bound for Chengdu, China and even presented a genuine Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) marriage certificate and photographs of their marriage.
However, during questioning conducted by immigration officers, the bureau said “the victim later admitted that a fixer arranged all their supposed marriage documents, to whom they paid P45,000.”
It said the other Filipina, who is 23 years old, was prevented from boarding her flight after claiming she was going to China to visit her husband.
“She was able to present a genuine PSA marriage certificate and a civil registrar's certificate, claiming they married in March 2024 and a supposed Commission on Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Program certificate to support her claim,” the BI said.
“However, officers doubted her statements citing numerous inconsistencies between her statements and the documents she presented,” it added.
During questioning, it said, “she had difficulty recalling basic details about their marriage.”
The BI said the two Filipinas and the Chinese national have been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation.