Pinoy couple using fake visa intercepted

Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) intercepted a married couple who tried to depart the country using a fake Netherlands visa at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Viado disclosed that the couple was stopped as they tried to board a Cathay Pacific flight to Amsterdam as Immigration officers found their Netherlands visa suspicious.

“Our officers are well-trained to detect fraudulent travel documents,” Viado said. “We warn the public against unscrupulous groups offering fake visas. These schemes not only waste money but also put travelers at risk of legal consequences.”

Mary Jane Hizon, chief of the BI’s immigration protection and border enforcement, said the bureau’s forensic documents laboratory confirmed the visas were counterfeit.

The couple admitted to paying P268,000 for their travel arrangements, including the fake visa. They were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation.