Authorities in the Philippines are ramping up security measures at the country’s borders amid growing concerns over the use of counterfeit travel documents by human trafficking syndicates.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) recently raised the alarm after uncovering several cases involving forged CFO certificates, fake employment contracts, and bogus overseas work permits. These documents were reportedly being used by individuals attempting to leave the country under false pretenses.
“We cannot become complacent,” said CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, urging the public to be extra cautious and transact only with official and verified agencies.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has also flagged a troubling pattern in which groups claiming to be church missionaries were later found to be victims of illegal recruitment, heading abroad for unauthorized employment.
In response, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau has stepped up its monitoring and security at international airports and seaports. He stressed the urgency of updating the bureau’s tools and systems to better detect fraud.
“Modernizing the systems of the BI has always been my drive. We are operating on an 85-year-old law, and our technologies are almost outdated,” Viado explained.
To counter the growing threat, more personnel are now being deployed to key exit points, and the use of biometric verification is being expanded. The BI is also working closely with the CFO, Department of Foreign Affairs, and law enforcement agencies to intercept fake documents before travelers can exit the country.
