Pinay passenger intercepted over fake stamp

Immigration officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a 37-year-old woman after discovering a fake departure stamp on her passport.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the incident underscores its commitment to combating human trafficking, a key pledge of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Mary Jane Hizon, chief of the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section, said the woman, who was bound for the Netherlands, presented a passport with a suspicious departure stamp.

Forensic analysis by the BI confirmed the stamp was counterfeit.

The woman told authorities she had sought help from a “fixer” at the NAIA 3 lobby who promised to assist her with immigration procedures.

She said the fixer instructed her to meet with a colleague wearing a face mask and white shirt and present her passport. The woman was then told to wait at the gate for an escort who never arrived.

BI commissioner Atty. Joel Viado warned the public against falling for such offers.

“These fixers will promise quick processing by circumventing laws. If you want to work abroad, do so legally and do not be enticed by these offers,” Viado said.

The woman was turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance.