A Filipino traveler headed for Malta was stopped by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on 11 November for presenting a forged pre-departure certificate.

According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the passenger was initially referred for secondary inspection for not possessing an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), even though the passenger stated that she intended to work in Malta.

Tansingco said that, as it guarantees their proper paperwork and security while working abroad, the OEC is a document that the Philippine government requires for all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

The BI chief added that upon secondary inspection, it was revealed that the passenger was traveling to Malta to work as a live-in caregiver and was holding documents, including a Commission on Filipinos Overseas Guidance and Counseling Program (CFO-GCP) certificate that was provided by her Maltese employer.

The CFO-GCP is a mandatory pre-departure seminar for first-time Filipino migrants who are Filipino partners, spouses, or fiancé(e)s of foreign nationals planning an overseas move.

Tansingco then disclosed that the passenger eventually admitted to obtaining her documents from an internet acquaintance, including the fake CFO-GCP certificate. She confessed to not personally applying for the CFO-GCP and bypassing the mandatory counseling session. He further emphasized the disparity in requirements for departing OFWs and first-time migrants.

He also stated that Filipinos whose sole purpose of travel is to work overseas are required to secure OECs from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the processes departing Filipinos need to undergo are "to safeguard their well-being abroad."

"This incident underscores the importance of exercising extreme caution when dealing with internet acquaintances. We encourage those seeking opportunities abroad to adhere to official channels and processes to avoid potential instances of human trafficking or illegal recruitment," Tansingco added.