2 foreigners with fake PH travel docs nabbed at NAIA

FILE: FEWER TRAVELERS. Fewer passengers are seen at the check-in counter of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Wednesday (April 13, 2022). (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Two foreign nationals were intercepted for possession of questionable travel documents by Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a report, BI Border Control Investigation Unit (BCIU) chief Dennis Alcedo said 30-year-old Chinese national Zhang Yang and 42-year-old Indian national Malkeet Singh were arrested at the NAIA Terminal 2 and 1, respectively.

He said the Chinese national was found to be in possession of a fake Philippine visa in his passport as he attempted to depart via a Philippine Airlines flight for Bangkok, Thailand at the NAIA Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Sunday.

During inspection, the officers discovered that his name has previously been included in the BI’s blacklist for violation of the conditions of his stay.

The officers also noticed a doubtful Philippine visa in his passport, which was confirmed as counterfeit by the forensic documents laboratory of the bureau.

On the other hand, Singh was apprehended at the NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque City terminal after arriving aboard a Scoot Airline flight from Singapore on Monday morning.

Officers noticed a previous Philippine arrival stamp on his passport but noticed inconsistencies in its features.

A tertiary inspection in the BI’s forensic laboratory also confirmed that the stamp is counterfeit.

“We commend our alert personnel who were able to foil their attempt. We will ensure that upon deportation, they will not be able to return to the country,” BI Commissioner Norman Tangsingco said.

Both will be detained at the BI’s facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City pending their eventual deportation.