(Photo courtesy of BI)
MANILA – A thorough investigation is being conducted by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) on the source of the documents supposedly presented by victims of the mail-order bride scheme, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Thursday.
According to BI deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has tasked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the release of “seemingly” authentic marriage documents.
“The DOJ, as chairperson of IACAT, directed the NBI to further conduct a probe on how these documents have been released. In the initial findings of the BI anti-fraud section laboratory, (they are) seemingly original kaya nagkaroon ng probe (that’s why it’s being probed),” he said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.
“Masusing iimbestigahan ang kasong ito para makita kung sino may dapat na pananagutan dito, para maagapan natin at di na dumami pa ang ganitong kaso at wala na po tayong mga kababayan pa na mabiktima ng (This case will be thoroughly investigated to identify the accountable individuals, thwart similar cases, and prevent our countrymen from being victims of) exploitation, sexual exploitation or human trafficking,” the BI official added.
He reported that for this year, a total of four cases involving such schemes were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with the latest involving a 20-year-old Filipina.
“Last Feb. 28, our immigration officers were able to intercept the victim and her companion a 34-year-old Chinese man. They presented themselves as a couple,” Mabulac said, noting that most of the victims’ destination is China.
Mabulac said Immigration personnel have been directed to be vigilant in scrutinizing the documents presented by travelers.
“Immigration officers have been directed kung may ganitong category ng ating mga kababayan na umaalis (if our departing countrymen fall into this category) to conduct thorough and strict departure policies, to verify,” he said.
The vigilance of Immigration officers in assessing and reassessing the travel documents of departing passengers is the main reason why successful interceptions are being made, Mabulac said. (PNA)
