BI arrests man for using fake OEC to leave PH

On Saturday, the Bureau of Immigration reported the arrest of a male passenger in his 30s attempting to leave the country using a fake overseas employment certificate at NAIA Terminal 3.

The passenger was flagged by BI officers while preparing to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Hong Kong on Aug. 15.

Upon verification, it was found that the OEC presented as proof of employment in Hong Kong belonged to another individual and was fraudulent.

The detection of this fake document is attributed to the joint system between the BI's Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) and the Department of Migrant Workers.

Authorities suspect that illegal online sellers are behind the distribution of these spurious documents, targeting aspiring overseas workers.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned that using fraudulent documents not only violates immigration and labor laws but also puts travelers at risk of exploitation and human trafficking.