MANILA – An overstaying Israeli man attempting to leave the country by presenting a spurious Philippine passport was intercepted in Pasay City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday.
Citing report from the BI border control and intelligence unit (BCIU), Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the 28-year-old Israeli national of Philippine descent, was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 where he was supposed to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Denpasar, Indonesia on Dec. 27.
BI-BCIU overall Deputy Chief Joseph Cueto said after presenting himself to the immigration officer at the BI counter for departure formalities, the man handed over a Philippine passport which turned out to be fake as evidenced by the glaring irregularities immediately noticeable on the passport’s bio-page.
“When asked by the immigration officer how and where he obtained the said passport, the passenger readily admitted that he procured it from a fixer for a fee of PHP10,000,” Cueto said.
Upon verification with the BI’s forensic documents laboratory, it was confirmed that the document is counterfeit.
Tansingco warned would-be travelers not to accept offers from fixers.
“The use of these spurious passports will no longer work as immigration officers are trained and adept in detecting fraudulent travel documents,” the BI chief said.
The man is currently detained at the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig. (PNA)
