Tampered papers won’t get traveler anywhere – BI

TAMPERING with documents when attempting to go out of the country will do a traveler no good, warned the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday.

Cases involving the use of counterfeit documents in recent weeks have alarmed and frustrated the BI, said Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

“These syndicates are issuing fake documents and sweet-talk our kababayan (countrymen) into agreeing to their illegal schemes,” he said in a statement. “Never agree to these kinds of arrangements.”

At the same time, he reminded those seeking jobs abroad to transact only with legitimate agencies, such as the Department of Migrant Workers.

On May 21, a male passenger bound for Bangkok, Thailand was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

He initially said it would be a leisure trip, but a thorough examination of his passport showed a valid Malta visa but stamped “canceled.”

Further interview disclosed that he was instructed to pose as a tourist and was indeed bound for the island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea, recruited by a relative.