POEA warns of scam involving arranged marriage to Chinese

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has warned the public against unscrupulous people who entice Filipino women into marrying Chinese nationals in exchange for nonexistent employment in China and financial benefits.

According to the POEA, the Department of Foreign Affairs recently reported that five Filipino women were stranded in Tongxu, Henan province, and requested repatriation assistance from the government.

They were allegedly recruited by two Chinese nationals, identified as Song Gang and Li Chunrong, a.k.a. Steven Lee, who is said to be married to a certain Violeta Aquino from Urbiztondo, Pangasinan. One of the recruits said Lee and Aquino arranged her marriage to a Chinese named Wei Qilai, the POEA said.

She said Lee had promised to give her family a dowry of P140,000 after the wedding. —TINA G. SANTOS