Immigration officers intercepted two Chinese and two Hongkong nationals who tried to leave for Canada with fraudulent travel documents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
BI port operations chief Grifton Medina said the four aliens were caught at the NAIA Terminal 2 after they arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Hongkong.
Medina said the foreigners attempt were foiled when airline personnel who doubted their documents referred them to the BI’s travel control and enforcement unit for questioning.
According to BI-TCEU chief Ma. Timotea Barizo, two of the passengers, Hongkong nationals identified as Lam Mik Ho and Mak Hin Chun Adrian, were transiting in Manila, and were supposed to board their connecting flight to Toronto, Canada.
The two checked in with the airline's transfer desk upon landing, but airline representatives were surprised when two others, who were later identified as Chinese nationals Chen Kaihui and He Chaorong, presented Hong Kong passports bearing Lam and Mak's names.
"There were two sets of Lam and Maks who wanted to transit to Canada, both sets carrying the same documents," Barizo said
Upon forensic document examination, it was discovered that Chen and He presented fake Hong Kong passports, and merely assumed the identities. Chinese passports were later discovered in their possession.
Canadian authorities likewise canceled the electronic travel authorization issued to Lam and Mak due to misrepresentation.
“These undesirable aliens should be banned from entering our country. They have no right to use the Philippines as a jump off point to enter other countries illegally. Let this serve as a warning. You will be caught,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.
The four were immediately sent back to Hong Kong and were barred from reentering the Philippines.