A Filipina attempting to leave the country under the guise of visiting her supposed Nigerian husband was intercepted by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on April 24 after presenting falsified documents.
The 33-year-old woman, whose identity is withheld for her protection under anti-trafficking laws, was about to board a Qatar Airways flight to Nigeria when officers flagged her for secondary inspection. She presented a marriage certificate claiming she tied the knot with a Nigerian national in May 2024—but authorities quickly determined the certificate was fake.
The woman initially insisted that her marriage was legitimate, explaining that her “husband’s” local village tradition prohibited documentation of the ceremony. However, further probing revealed she had paid an online contact to obtain the fraudulent certificate. She later admitted that no marriage took place and disclosed her true intention: to work as a nanny in Nigeria with a promised salary of P35,000 per month.
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned the public to remain vigilant against deceptive offers, saying the agency continues to crack down on illegal recruiters and human trafficking.
“Our priority is to ensure that Filipinos seeking work abroad are protected and not lured into risky or unlawful arrangements,” Viado emphasized.
