The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted two Filipinas bound for China, allegedly involved in a fraudulent marriage scheme. In separate incidents in Cebu and Manila, the victims were rescued, according to a BI news release on Thursday.
According to a GMA Integrated News report, a 23-year-old Filipina was stopped at Mactan International Airport on July 23. Initially presenting genuine documents, including a marriage certificate and a civil registrar’s certificate, inconsistencies in her statements led immigration officers to discover that the marriage was a sham. The victim admitted that her purported husband had arranged the documents through an agent, and the Commission on Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Program certificate she presented was fake.
In another incident, immigration personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted a Chinese man and a 20-year-old Filipina, believed to be a mail-order bride, as they attempted to fly to Chengdu amid Super Typhoon Carina. Despite presenting genuine marriage documents and photos, the victim later revealed that a fixer arranged their marriage documents for a fee of P45,000.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco warned Filipinos against the mail-order bride scheme, highlighting the negative consequences faced by victims, including being penniless and enslaved without pay. He urged Filipinos to ensure they work abroad through legal means.
The victims and the male escort have been turned over to the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation.