IMMIGRATION Commissioner Norman Tansingco expressed concern over recent interceptions of foreign nationals pretending to be Filipino citizens.

It can be recalled that earlier this month, the BI intercepted a Hong Kong-Canadian national suspected to have misrepresented himself as a Filipino.

The BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) recorded two more cases of misrepresentation this month at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Apprehended at the NAIA Terminal 3 last January 17 was 35-year-old Nong Thi Luyen. Nong attempted to depart to Vietnam via a Cebu Pacific Airways flight to Saigon.

Nong, who initially presented a Philippine passport bearing a Philippine name, raised the suspicion of immigration officers when she was unable to answer basic details about her identity.

“She later admitted during questioning that she is a Vietnamese citizen and that she last arrived in the country almost two decades ago,” Tansingco added. “Apparently, she wanted to evade overstaying penalties so she resorted to misrepresenting herself,” he added.

Investigation further bared that the Philippine passport presented by the passenger belonged to someone else.

Also intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 1 last January 23 was Hailan Zhang, 36, who attempted to depart the country via a Thai airways flight to Hanoi.

Hailan initially presented a Philippine passport, and carried identification cards and permits, claiming he was a businessman in the country.

However, the officers noted numerous inconsistencies in his statements, and he later admitted his real identity. The BI’s forensic documents laboratory also certified that while his Philippine passport is genuine, it bore a fake BI departure stamp.

Both Nong and Hailan were charged with violation of the Philippine Immigration Act, and will remain at the BI’s warden facility in Taguig City pending their deportation. With JUN I. LEGASPI

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas