The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Monday that two Chinese nationals were apprehended by its officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last 24 January after they presented fictitious exit clearances.

According to the report given to BI commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado, BI-NAIA 3 head Dennis Javier disclosed that two Chinese males identified as Wang Changru and Cui Wen were prevented from boarding a Cathay Pacific Airlines flight bound for Hong Kong due to the presentation of fake documents.

Reports also revealed that the two Chinese were discovered to be overstaying — they both arrived in the country in 2019. However, they showed emigration clearance certificates (ECC) allegedly obtained on 23 January, declaring that they are permitted to remain in the country until February.

“The two men failed to realize that our centralized database can detect actual arrivals and verify documents presented,” Javier said.

After verifying that their ECCs presented were fake, the BI-NAIA 3 officers immediately arrested the two Chinese nationals for violating the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

The apprehended Chinese nationals were turned over to the BI’s legal division and would be subject to deportation proceedings.