A 25-year-old man was barred from departing the country on Christmas Eve after presenting fictitious documents, according to Burau of Immigration officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

BI-NAIA said that on Christmas Eve, the male passenger whose name was withheld for his safety tried to depart at NAIA Terminal 3 for Macau.

During the primary inspection, he claimed to travel abroad to visit his alleged wife, an overseas Filipino worker in Macau. He also presented a marriage certificate to substantiate his claim, but immigration officers noticed that his document was counterfeit.

"We suspect he might be traveling after being illegally recruited to work abroad, hence the story and the fake document," BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.

The man admitted to having bought the document on Facebook for P1,500, which he attempted to use to show it to immigration.

Tansingco again warned aspiring OFWs not to agree to illegal schemes to work abroad.

"Despite the holiday season and the festive mood, our officers are not letting their guard down," he warned.

The man was immediately referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation and assistance.