A 25-YEAR-OLD Filipina suspected to be involved in a “mail-order bride” scheme in China glued together pages of her passport to conceal a Chinese visa, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Monday said the woman, a resident of Sultan Kudarat, was stopped at the Davao International Airport moments before she was to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Bangkok, Thailand.
She initially told immigration officers she was traveling alone for an eight-day vacation, presenting what appeared to be legitimate travel documents.
Immigration officers inspecting documents discovered tampered passport pages hiding a valid China visa.
The woman admitted gluing the pages to hide her real destination — China — where she was to meet a supposed “groom” arranged through an acquaintance.
She said she had no direct contact with the man and was promised P500,000 as dowry.
Authorities said her entire trip — tickets, hotel bookings, and documents — was arranged by a contact who also provided falsified papers, a common red flag in trafficking cases.
The BI believes the woman was being trafficked under the guise of a marriage scheme.
She has been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) for assistance and case build-up.
Viado warned that such schemes often end in exploitation.
“These syndicates sell dreams of love and a better life, but victims often end up abused, unpaid, and stripped of freedom,” he said.
“If you are being told to hide details of your trip, use fake documents, or rely entirely on someone else for your travel arrangements, those are clear indicators of trafficking. Our officers will continue to act decisively to stop these schemes and protect our people,” Viado said.
The BI reiterated its commitment to tightening border controls and working closely with partner agencies to dismantle trafficking networks preying on Filipinos seeking opportunities abroad.