Police step up campaign vs fake entry permits targeting foreigners online

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. Image from PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar on Friday ordered the anti-cybercrime group (ACG) to intensify its campaign against online selling of fake entry passes to foreigners.

Eleazar made the order following an advisory from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) warning against the scheme.

“Titiyakin natin na mananagot ang mga taong ito,” Eleazar said in a statement. (We will make sure that these people will be made accountable.)

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente on Thursday said they received reports that there was a certain individual who offered entry permits to the country to several foreign victims in exchange for grease money.

“There is no such service,” Morente said in a separate statement.

One of the victims was later asked by the suspect to contact the immigration officer who would supposedly ensure the smooth entry of foreigners in exchange for grease money, but the supposed immigration officer is not an employee of the agency.

BI pointed out that only Filipinos, foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, foreign parents of Filipino minors, and foreigners holding immigrant and non-immigrant visas are allowed to enter the country.

Entry exemption documents (EED) are issued by foreign posts abroad to foreigners who wish to enter the country with tourist visas, according to BI.

“It is disconcerting to know that there are still those who can take advantage of the vulnerable even during a pandemic,” Morente lamented.

EDV