‘Fake Pinoy’ nabbed at NAIA
BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers have intercepted a Canadian national suspected of being a fake Filipino.
According to a report from Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) acting head Ann Camille Mina, the 49-year-old subject was referred by primary inspectors after he allegedly attempted to depart for Taiwan via an Eva Air flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.
The foreign-looking suspect presented a Philippine passport, but raised the officer’s suspicion after he was found unable to speak Filipino or any Philippine dialect. He was also unable to answer basic questions about his identity.
Verification in the BI’s database revealed the suspect had multiple travels in the country using a Canadian and a Hong Kong passport, and is a holder of a permanent residence visa.
Upon interview, he later admitted that it was his lawyer who processed his birth certificate for the application of his passport.
BI officers suspect that his passport and birth certificate were fraudulently-acquired.
The suspect was later turned over to the BI’s Legal Division for inquest and charging for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act. With Hector Lawas
