Immigration officers stopped a 25-year-old Filipina from leaving the country after secondary inspection raised doubts about her claimed marriage to a Chinese national, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
She was scheduled to board an Air China flight to Beijing on December 7 when primary inspectors referred her to the bureau’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section for additional screening. Officials said she told investigators she intended to visit a Chinese man identified only as “Wang,” whom she met online in 2024 through a mutual acquaintance.
During questioning, the traveler said they supposedly wed in September 2025 “in a restaurant,” but could not explain basic details about the ceremony. Authorities later observed multiple inconsistencies between her statements and the documents she presented.
The woman eventually admitted she was unfamiliar with marriage requirements and revealed that her aunt arranged all paperwork in exchange for P60,000.
“This is a clear case of a mail-order bride scheme,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. “These arrangements trap victims in exploitative situations abroad—many end up unpaid, abused, and unable to seek help. We urge the public not to fall for these fraudulent offers,” he added.
The BI reported that she has been endorsed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further assessment and possible support.
