Passenger intercepted at NAIA over fake CFO certificate —BI

Authorities intercepted a female traveler bound for Japan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for allegedly using a fake Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) certificate. 

In a news release Friday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the 20-year-old victim attempted to depart for Nagoya on November 14, 2024, saying she would be travelling to visit her Japanese husband. 

The passenger allegedly presented the fraudulent CFO requirement but immigration officers noticed discrepancies on the document. This prompted verification on the BI-CFO join system, which confirmed that the CFO certificate was invalid. 

“Our officers swiftly initiated a check using the BI-CFO joint system, which enabled real-time verification of the authenticity of her documents,” said BI Commissioner Joel Viado. 

Viado also said the victim admitted purchasing the counterfeit certificate from an online fixer for a fee of P3,000.

The BI turned over the traveler to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation and for the filing of appropriate charges against those involved in producing the fake certificate.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News